A MAN who attacked his aunt's former lover with a pool cue, an hour before the man died, has been jailed for 15 months.

A scuffle broke out in Burnley Crown Court after Judge Raymond Bennett passed sentence on Peter Campbell, 21, formerly of York Street, Church.

Police stepped in to separate supporters of Campbell and members of the dead man's family after a punch was thrown and abuse was shouted.

Police escorted the family as they walked from the court and no arrests were made.

Campbell 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, the court was told.

Campbell had earlier denied grievous bodily harm with intent but pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding.

Elizabeth Nicolls, prosecuting, said Campbell admitted hitting Mr Johnson with a broken pool cue, once near his forehead and then on the back of the head. Campbell then ran away.

The attack caused two cuts and blood streamed down Mr Johnson's head.

But when paramedics arrived, Mr Johnson swore at them and refused their help.

Witness Tracey Cougill said in a statement that Johnson said he would search every pub in Church for Campbell and threatened to bite parts of his body off.

Miss Nicolls said Mr Johnson finished his drink, then went to his ex-girlfriend Bernadette Mullen's house in nearby Walmsley Close where police believe he was subjected to a second assault by another unidentified person.

He then died from a heart attack.

Peter Turner, defending, said Campbell had lashed out because he was afraid of Mr Johnson.

He had previously lived and worked with Mr Johnson and knew he could be violent.

Campbell claimed that Mr Johnson had approached him carrying either a bottle or snooker cue and he feared he would be attacked.

He accepted that his actions went further than self defence. Miss Nicolls said the prosecution had no choice but to accept Campbell's version of events.

She said two witnesses to the attack, Perry Fallon and Tracey Cougill, had twice been unable to attend court and were unlikely to give evidence.

Sentencing, Judge Bennett said: "Mr Johnson was a man who had been involved in violence and had convictions for it.

"You knew that he could behave in that way, especially when in drink.

"But the amount of force you used went way beyond what was necessary to defend yourself.

"There was no excuse for the second blow to the back of the head."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.