A TEENAGER attacked a man with a snooker ball in a sock when he feared he was about to lose his girlfriend and child, a court heard.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Paul McDonald, 18, had earlier seen the victim dropping off his girlfriend in the early hours and worried he would be rejected.

McDonald, whose parents were alcoholics and who had been sent to a children's home when he was 10, was sent to a Young Offenders' Institution for 12 months .

Sentencing him, Recorder Beverley Lunt said he had a bad record, the offence was premeditated and unprovoked and he had only stopped because his friends pulled him away.

She went on: "You are very lucky you were not charged with a serious wounding offence which carries a maximum of life imprisonment."

McDonald, of Schofield Road, Rawtenstall, had admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and had been committed for sentence by Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Magistrates.

Kendal Lindley, prosecuting, said last December, victim David Holt was driving his friends home from a night out and was ringing for the AA after it was found all the tyres of his car had been deflated. As he used a mobile telephone, he noticed a group of youths and one approached and asked him his name.

McDonald accused Mr Holt of having some relationship with his girlfriend the previous Sunday.

He then produced a sock with a billard ball in it and "walloped," Mr Holt over the head.

Mr Lindley said Mr Holt was dazed, his forehead was split open and the defendant continued to make threats as friends dragged him off.

McDonald had previous convictions for assault, affray and possessing an offensive weapon.

Michael Lavery, defending, said McDonald was in a settled relationship with his partner of four years and they had a child.

He had seen his girlfriend being dropped off by the victim and feared rejection and isolation.