A MAN who was battered and left for dead in a vicious back street assault spoke today of his attacker's six-year jail sentence and said: "I just want to put it all behind me now."

Thomas Gibson was speaking as his assailant, Paul O'Connor, of Water Street, Accrington, began a six-year jail term.

Judge Barbara Watson, sentencing O'Connor, 27, on Friday at Burnley Crown Court, told him it was his good fortune that Mr Gibson survived.

Mr Gibson, 49, of Accrington, said: "I know he's been sent to jail for six years but I don't know if he should have got longer. It's not for me to say

"It's all in the past.

"I'm getting better now."

He suffered a broken neck and a deep cut on the back of his head and was in hospital for two months after the late-night beating.

Meanwhile, Detective Sergeant Jim Elston, who led the inquiry into the assault, said: "We were satisfied with the verdict of the jury on the completion of the trial and are satisfied with the sentence of imprisonment given by the judge.

"This was an unprovoked and senseless attack on a defenceless man who had been enjoying a night out at his local working men's club.

"Only O'Connor himself knows why he chose to assault Mr Gibson so violently and he will have the opportunity to reflect on his actions during the course of his prison sentence."