TWO men have been jailed for beating up a drunken man to whom they had given a lift from the Colne Blues Festival.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Wesley Holden -- who had told the jury he thought he had been getting into a taxi -- ended up with a smashed rib, a collapsed lung, had to undergo surgery and was in hospital for eight days after the attack on him by Waseem Aslam, 25, and Wakxy Issa, 27.

Issa, of Ruthin Close, Blackburn, who started the violence and was still assaulting Mr Holden when police arrived, was sent to prison for 18 months.

Aslam, of Rook Street, Nelson, who got involved in the "middle" of the kicking and punching, received a 12-month jail term.

Both were recently convicted by a jury of inflicting grievous bodily harm, but had been cleared of the more serious allegation of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Judge David Pirie said the attack on Mr Holden, who was plainly drunk at the time, was prolonged.

Police were alerted by a witness who had seen what was happening and had been concerned about Mr Holden. He said Issa played the major role and Aslam was drawn into it.