AS a man begins a 15-month jail sentence for assault with a pool cue, police are continuing to investigate an alleged second assault on Harold Johnson around the time of his death in Walmsley Close, Church.

Burnley Crown Court heard that head injuries consistent with stamping, kicking or punching were found on Mr Johnson's body, although a Home Office pathologist did not link the attack with his death from a heart condition.

Peter Campbell, 21, formerly of York Street, Church, admitted attacking roofer Harold Johnson in the Commercial Hotel, Blackburn Road, on September 30 last year.

Mr Johnson later died of a heart attack on the doorstep of his ex-girlfriend's home and is believed to have been attacked by another person before he died.

Peter Turner, defending Campbell, said Mr Johnson's ex-girlfriend Bernadette Mullen had attended Accrington police station a fortnight ago to face questions about the alleged second assault, which is believed to have happened at about 8pm on September 30.

He said police believed Miss Mullen could reveal the identity of the person believed to have attacked Mr Johnson.

Judge Raymond Bennett said there was no suggestion that Campbell, who admitted a separate attack at 7pm that night, had any part in the alleged second assault.

At an earlier hearing, Mr Turner said 69 people had contacted police with information about the attack. He told Hyndburn magistrates: "A man was seen running away from Miss Mullen's home. A man was said to have run into a pub called The Stag, covered in blood, saying 'I think I killed him'." Anyone with information should call Accrington Police on 01254 382141.

The circumstances of Harold Johnson's death could be investigated by a coroner if his family get their way.

The dead man's sister, Carole Johnson, said she had sent a letter to the coroner requesting an inquest be held to determine how her brother died.

A spokeswoman for Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley coroner's office said she had no knowledge of a formal request from the family but was aware of their feelings.

She said the coroner could consider holding an inquest if such a request was received.

Victim 'was like Jekyll and Hyde'

ASSAULT victim Harold Johnson was a "Jekyll and Hyde" character who was nice when sober but a violent bully when drunk, according to his former girlfriend.

The former roofer was sentenced to two months in prison at Burnley crown Court last July after admitting a charge of common assault on his former partner Bernadette Mullen.

The court heard Mr Johnson, who had been drinking vodka and lager, assaulted Miss Mullen near their home in Walmsley Close. She ran home and locked herself in the lavatory.

When Mr Johnson began banging on the door she climbed out of a window before falling 10ft to the ground.

Miss Mullen, who is now registered disabled, lost the use of her left arm.

Her claims that Mr Johnson was violent and abusive were read to Hyndburn magistrates by Peter Campbell's defence solicitor Peter Turner at Campbell's committal hearing. Her statement read: "He was like Jekyll and Hyde. When he was sober he was a nice man. When he drank he became violent and abusive. He picked on somebody for no reason at all.

"He had to get completely wrecked every time he went out. He would drink 12 pints of lager and vodka. He was unpopular and banned from pubs."

In another case at Burnley Crown Court, a former pub landlord told how he lost the end of his finger after intervening in a quarrel between Mr Johnson and his partner.

But Mr Johnson, who was acquitted of grievous bodily harm, claimed the man had grabbed him from behind and put a finger in his mouth.

The court heard Mr Johnson had pushed his partner up against a wall, demanding his birthday money.

At the time of Mr Johnson's death in September 1998 Miss Mullen was still living in Walmsley Close, while he was living with his son Jamie at a hostel in Blackburn Road, Accrington. It was outside the couple's former shared home that bruised and bleeding Mr Johnson collapsed and died.

Jailed assailant's history of violence

PETER Campbell's pool cue attack on his aunt's former lover, Harold Johnson, was not the first time he had meted out his own form of violent justice on someone he believed had hurt his family.

Campbell, who now has a child of his own, had previously been jailed for a revenge attack on a schoolboy he believed had attacked his brother.

He was sentenced to nine months in prison by Burnley Crown Court in June 1997 after he and another man admitted affray. Campbell, then 19, and of Walmsley Close, Church, dragged the boy from the house and an assault then took place, leaving the 14-year-old with cuts, bruises and a black eye, the court heard.

Tony Cross, defending Campbell, said the defendant had foolishly decided to take the law into his own hands.

Sentencing, Judge Ian Webster said: "Campbell, you gave the youth a good beating in return for the good beating you believed that he had given your brother."

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