TWO young men attacked a Darwen man in his home in a row over money, a court heard.

Victim Steven Fay was punched and kicked at his address in Thorncliffe Drive. His partner was the mother of one of those responsible for the assault, Preston Crown Court was told.

But David Dale and Joseph Doherty avoided jail and were both made the subject of community orders that will involve 12 months supervision by the probation service, doing 140 hours community work each and undertaking a Think First programme.

They were ordered to pay £250 costs each.

Dale, 19, and 20-year-old Doherty, both of Ivinson Road, Darwen pleaded guilty to a charge of actual bodily harm assault.

Neil Standage, prosecuting, said Mr Fay was the partner of Dale's mother.

There had been some difficulty between the two men in the past, but that appeared to have lessened.

The defendant was repaying a debt to Mr Fay, having borrowed £700 for a trip to Benidorm.

He said that around £300 of the money had been paid back and Mr Fay regularly went to Dale's address to recover repayments.

On July 15 last year he went round to that defendant's flat to collect a payment.

An argument occurred between them and this led to a physical struggle.

Mr Fay accepted that he grabbed Dale by the throat, but did not strike him.

Some four hours later, Dale, Doherty and two others turned up at the man's home and the assault took place.

Mr Standage said Dale and Doherty entered the home and set about Mr Fay, punching and kicking him on a number of occasions.

Doherty had been "co-opted" by Dale to go along with him to the address.

Fraser Livesey, for Doherty, said he had used just one punch.

This was done after a fight had started between the other two. What happened had been out of character.

Julian Holt, for Dale, said he was someone of previous good character.

He and Mr Fay had tried to get on in the past, but they didn't mix.

"There is no excuse for going to Mr Fay's house and doing what he has done.

"He apologises for his reaction. It was quite wrong."