A FATHER of two saw red when his estranged wife turned up at his home and he spotted his young son sitting on the knee of his 'love rival,' a court heard.

Burnley Crown Court was told how Jason Hodgson, 26, attacked teenager Ian Tregay. His brother Garry Ryan, 23, then joined in and a friend Liam Atkinson, 21, completed the three-on-to-one assault.

Mr Tregay, who had worked with Caroline Hodgson and who Jason Hodgson believed had been having an affair with his wife, was off work for two weeks, had to have kidney scans and was at first thought to have suffered a smashed jaw in the fracas, last August.

All three men were sent to custody, by Judge Raymond Bennett, who said all the victim had done was to drive the car with Mrs Hodgson and the two children inside.

He went on: "There seems to be an idea that if you don't agree with somebody, its perfectly alright to use violence. Well it's not, and people must understand that its not allowed."

Hodgson, of Alder Street, was sent to prison for six months, and Ryan, of Acre Street and Atkinson, of Liverpool Road, neither of whom had any previous convictions, were each sent down for two months. All live in Burnley and admitted unlawful wounding. Mark Lamberty, prosecuting, said after a disagreement between the Hodgsons over contact with the children, Caroline Hodgson and Ian Tregay made an "ill-advised" visit to Jason Hodgson's home about 11pm.

There was a row between the estranged couple outside, all three defendants ended up attacking Mr Tregay and he needed stitches to his lower lip.