A ROOFER died from a heart attack an hour after he was beaten with a pool cue by one of his former lover's relatives, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Harold Johnson, 48, was attacked inside a pub in Church by Peter Campbell who regarded Mr Johnson's former girlfriend Bernadette Mullen as his aunt.

Campbell, 21, formerly of York Street, Church, had admitted causing Mr Johnson grievous bodily harm at an earlier hearing.

He was due to be sentenced yesterday, but Judge Raymond Bennett adjourned the case after hearing conflicting accounts of events leading up to the assault.

Elizabeth Nicolls, prosecuting, said Campbell had been drinking at the Commercial Hotel, Blackburn Road, Church, when Mr Johnson entered the premises.

She said Mr Johnson had been in a relationship with Bernadette Mullen who Campbell regarded as his aunt.

An exchange took place between the two men, and Campbell struck Mr Johnson twice with the pool cue.

Mr Johnson, 48, of Blackburn Road, Accrington was bleeding profusely and refused medical attention but he died an hour later on the doorstep of Miss Mullen's house.

Miss Nicolls said Mr Johnson's death, from a massive heart attack, could not be linked to the assault in the pub by Campbell on September 30. A post mortem examination showed he died from a heart defect which could have killed him at any time.

Peter Turner, defending, said Mr Johnson had been so drunk when he arrived that he had urinated against the taxi which dropped him at the pub.

He said Miss Mullen was in fact Campbell's second cousin, and she had helped bring him up. A few days before the assault, Campbell had been beaten up on Mr Johnson's instructions because of his support for Miss Mullen, he added.

Feelings had been running high between the two families, but Campbell's family regretted Mr Johnson's death and wished to extend their sympathies, said Mr Turner.

Campbell was bailed to July 23 on condition he lives at an address given to the court, does not enter Burnley, Accrington, Church or Oswaldtwistle except when required to, and does not contact prosecution witnesses.

After the case police made a fresh appeal for information regarding an alleged incident which took place in Walmesley Close at 8.30pm the same evening. People should call Accrington CID on 01254 353741.

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