A MAN who caused multiple fractures in a violent incident at his home has been given a suspended jail term.

Martin Brown was alleged to have punched, kicked, stamped and jumped on his victim whom the defendant had invited to his house for a drink.

The injured man, Thomas Mulcahy, sustained fractures of the hand and wrist, multiple fractures to the cheekbone, damaged sinuses and a tear to his right ear.

Brown, 24, of Pennine Road, Bacup, pleaded guilty to a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The court heard Mr Mulcahy had been drinking in Bacup town centre on June 3 last year when he came across Brown on his way home.

He knew the defendant who then invited him back to his home for a drink.

Caroline Gee, prosecuting, said when he arrived, Brown and his girlfriend began arguing and Mr Mulcahy was left with a baby, which he had to feed.

Brown later took the baby from him and went over to Mr Mulcahy and kicked him in the face.

Miss Gee told the court a violent assault then continued and Mr Mulcahy was subjected to punches to the head and about the body.

In police interview Brown maintained Mr Mulcahy was already injured by the time he had arrived at his home.

He denied that any altercation had occurred at his home and suggested the reason for complaining of assault was that the other person held a grudge against him.

Brown was a man with no previous convictions.

Tony Cross, defending, produced a bundle of testimonials on behalf of Brown, from family and friends, for the judge to consider.

He said: "The defendant says there was a fight, not an attack and that he acted in excess of self defence."

Since the offence Brown was said to have suffered both physically and psycholo-gically.

Judge Pamela Badley accepted that the offence had not been pre-meditated, but she said terrible injuries had been inflicted.

She said: "For someone of your background, with no previous convictions, you used extreme force."

The offence had to be marked by a prison sentence, but in all the circumstances, that could be suspended, she added.

The defendant was given eight months jail, suspended for a year and ordered to perform 100 hours unpaid work.