A MAN was today starting a three-and-a-half year jail term for an attack which almost cost a man his life and changed it forever.

But the family of innocent victim John Gorton, were said to be upset at what they saw as meagre punishment for the unprovoked attack.

The Burnley man was left in a life threatening condition, and the expectation was that he would die after being knocked down by a taxi as he tried to escape. Doctors gave him a 10 per cent chance of survival.

Today, Mr Gorton, who worked in the pension department at the Benefits Agency, Ainsworth Street, Blackburn, before the attack, is partially deaf, has memory problems through minor brain damage, lung difficulties, can't lift his left arm, and is not expected to be able to work for some time.

He was singled out as he made his way home after a night out in Burnley, eating a pizza, in January. He was set upon and then run over as he tried to escape.

His attacker, Brian Dean, 20, who boasted about what he had done and later admitted he had a temper he couldn't control, was sent to a Young Offenders' Institution after appearing at Burnley Crown Court yesterday. Judge Raymond Bennett said he had been responsible for 'dreadful mindless violence,' fuelled by drink. He added Mr Gorton's relations would probably think there was no sentence which was long enough for him and that would be quite natural.

After the case, Mr Gorton's family said they were unhappy with the length of the sentence but did not want to comment further as they were trying to help John get on with his life.

Dean of Olympia Street, Burnley, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, inflicting grievous bodily harm and a separate allegation of affray.

A Burnley 17-year-old co-defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was given 80 hours community punishment. He pleaded guilty to affray.

Robert Elias, prosecuting, said the acts which befell Mr Gorton were almost like a 'Greek tragedy" and he would never be the same man again.

The defendants had been to a drinking party, by midnight, Dean was drunk, had a family row and became agitated. Youths began to wind him up and encourage him to attack people in the street.

On Westgate, Burnley, Mr Gorton, 35, of Accrington Road, Burnley, was walking home, eating his supper. Dean, who was with another man, hit him on the eyebrow with a bottle, felling him. The other man fled and Dean followed.

Dean went back to the house where the 17 year old was about to go to bed and bragged about knocking somebody out. Dean and the teenager left the flat and came across Mr Gorton sitting at the side of the road, dazed, with his pizza.

Dean punched him, knocking him to the ground at least once and as Mr Gorton, bleeding, tried to get away, he ran into the road and stumbled into the path of a taxi, travelling at about 50mph. The vehicle had to reverse to free him and paramedics found him bleeding from the head and mouth.

Mr Gorton was taken to Burnley General Hospital, where he was found to have suffered a fractured skull, broken legs, a broken arm, smashed ribs and pelvis and internal injuries including collapsed lungs. He was not expected to live..

Mr Elias said the two defendants then went to Dean's father's home, where he explained he was in trouble and the police were called.

Paul Hague, defending Dean, said the violence was mindless. Dean bore a heavy burden of responsibility for Mr Gorton's injuries.

He had spent his time on remand trying to overcome his literacy difficulties. This would be his first custodial sentence.