A BUSINESSMAN has spoken of his relief after a man convicted of harassing him and threatening to gouge his wife's eyes out was banned from contacting him.

Daniel Allen, 27, of Woodside Avenue, Rishton, was told by a judge that as well as being forbidden to contact nightclub owner Ian Jackson, or his wife, he must never go within half a mile of their Sabden home.

At Preston Crown Court an Anti Social Behaviour Order for an indefinite period was imposed on Allen and he was given a six month jail sentence.

After the case Allen walked free due to time spent on remand. The defendant had been convicted after a trial of harassment and also having a blade.

After the case, Mr Jackson, said: "I have no idea what started these phone calls but they were all the time and all through the night.

"As far as I know he used to come in the club and ended up being barred, but that was years before these phone calls started."

John Coffell, prosecuting, said the calls were made during a two-week period in December 2004 and up to eight calls were made each evening.

Mr Jackson said in evidence that in the beginning the content of the calls confused him but they became threatening and abusive. He said that in one call Allen had threatened to go to Mr Jackson's house in Padiham Road and "put out" the eyes of his wife.

Mr Jackson met the caller, by arrangement, at the nightclub he owned. But before going there he had informed police who attended and were forced to intervene.

When searched at a police station, Allen was found to have a knife.

Allen, who represented himself, told the court that he would live with his parents when released. He had been on remand for nearly four months.

"My ambition is to move out of the area. It has been for many years now."

l Mr Jackson is the owner of Monroes nightclub in Great Harwood, which burned down last February after an arson attack. There are no re-opening plans.