A DRUNKEN man who smashed another man's eye socket in a pub fracas was today starting a 15-month jail term.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Jason Tattersall, 22 thought he was defending himself in the late -night melee.

Sentencing him, Judge Anthony Proctor said drink was no excuse and the trouble had got out of hand.

He said the courts could not condone violence, there had to be a custodial sentence and the message had to go out to the public that that was what would happen in such cases.

Tattersall, of Dall Street, Burnley, had earlier been convicted by a jury of inflcting grievous bodily harm.

The court was told Tattersall's victim suffered a cut forehead, swollen left cheek and a fracture to the left orbital floor. He also received two black eyes and a cut over the bridge of his nose.

Amanda Johnson, defending, said Tattersall would be surprised if he caused the fracture to the victim. He might well have caused all the injuries but then again he might not have.

The defendant had stayed out out of trouble since the offence, just over a year ago. He had since seen the victim on a regular basis but there had been no further problems.