A YOUTH ended up on the ground seemingly unconscious after an alleged street attack at the hands of a relation of a teenaged girl.

Burnley Crown Court heard how the girl was said to have rung Michael Crawford, 18, on her mobile phone complaining that alleged victim Karl Dale and a friend had been pestering them.

Mr Dale's friend, Philip Barker told the jury how the complainant ended up with his "face in a mess and bleeding heavily," after Crawford had knelt on his chest punching him and kicked him in the face. Crawford, of Abingdon Road, Padiham, denies assault causing actual bodily harm.

Mr Barker said he and Mr Dale had been to three or four pubs in Padiham and whistled as they walked past two girls.

The girls started being abusive and swearing, words were exchanged both ways, but Mr Dale said to leave the girls as they were kids and shouldn't be out.

Mr Barker told the court one of the girls then hit Mr Dale, spiltting his lip and making it bleed, but the two youths carried on walking. One of the girls shouted to Mr Dale to go back as she wanted to apologise and the complainant said he thought he deserved one.

Mr Barker said his friend went back to one of the girls and as he approached, she said she was sorry and she had been out of order. At that point, the defendant came running across the road and punched Mr Dale. Crawford was on his knees on Mr Dale's chest, repeatedly punching him.

Mr Dale was lying on the ground and appeared unconscious, said Mr Barker.

Mr Barker said he shouted for Crawford to stop, reached out to grab the defendant's arm and Crawford got up at the same time.

Cross-examined by Martin Hackett, defending Crawford, Mr Barker said it was not true that one of the girls had been grabbed by the throat by Mr Dale.

Mr Hackett suggested what happened was almost six of one and half a dozen of the other.

He claimed Mr Barker and the alleged victim were still arguing with the two girls when Crawford went over and Mr Dale asked what it had to do with him.

Mr Hackett alleged Mr Dale turned to the defendant with his fists clenched and Crawford hit him once before he went to the ground. Mr Barker said that was not true.

Mr Hackett told the jury he suggested that Crawford managed to get away from Mr Dale, who had a grip of him and just walked away. He said the defendant never kicked the complainant in the face.

Proceeding