A WOMAN who "bottled," a man said to have groped her has been jailed, along with two brothers who joined in the late-night drunken fracas.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Natalie Cook, 18, struck the first blow to the victim. John Wigglesworth, 20, got involved and Charles Wigglesworth, 19, threw a bottle at the man and punched and kicked him.

Cook, Elmfield Street, Church, and Charles Wigglesworth, of Persia Street, Accrington, were each sent to detention for four months and John Wigglesworth, also of Persia Street, got six months.

John Wigglesworth and Cook each admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and affray and Charles Wigglesworth pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm.

All were committed for sentence by Hyndburn magistrates.

Sentencing the trio, Judge David Pirie, who said although the victim suffered relatively minor injuries, late-night violence due to excessive drinking was the "scurge," of the area.

Young people had to realise if they took part, they would lose their liberty.

Arthur Stuttard, prosecuting, said the complainant had had six bottles of WKD and was on Blackburn Road, Accrington, when seven or eight people went over and started shouting. He told them he did not want any trouble but Cook then hit him with a bottle.

He remembered being punched and kicked all over his body and was taken to hospital.

Nick Courtenay, defending John Wigglesworth, said the defendant had initially tried to calm things down. It was only after the victim tried to hit him with the bottle that he became involved in violence, he said.

Tim White, defending Cook, said she had been angry and insulted at the man's objectionable behaviour but it could be no excuse for what he did.

Mr White, defending Charles Wigglesworth, said his problem was drink.