Pub customer is jailed for two attacks

Fraser Rankin, 46, hit a man who intervened when he began an altercation with the landlady.

He then smashed the landlady's husband's nose when he went to try to sort things out, Burnley magistrates heard.

Rankin, of Norfolk Street, Nelson, had denied common assault, assault causing actual bodily harm and police obstruction, but had been convicted after a trial.

Philippa White, prosecuting, said on January 17, the defendant was in the Bull pub in Nelson, with some other men.

For some reason an altercation began with a barman.

He had been trying to eject the men because he suspected they might be in possession of drugs. The landlady was called to the bar to help as Rankin became abusive towards the barman.

A witness named David Pickup intervened when Rankin began an altercation with the landlady, was punched to the ground three times and received a swollen nose and cuts to the edge of it.

The court earlier heard how when the landlady's husband Lee Duckworth arrived home, she told him what had happened.

He went to the Netherfield Club, Nelson, to sort things out and Rankin butted and punched him, breaking his nose and bursting his lip.

When police arrived at the club and asked to speak to him, Rankin became aggressive and abusive and struggled.

Dylan Bradshaw, defending, said Rankin was said to be at low risk of reoffending.

He was not the only person who had reacted in a way which was perhaps not helpful but he accepted his actions were quite wrong and did not blame others.

The defendant was mature enough to reflect on what had happened and to realise in future he must use greater control.

Mr Bradshaw said Rankin, who had been described by the probation officer who wrote his pre-sentence report as "personable and polite", had suffered sleepless nights at the prospect of going to prison.

The solicitor said although the court had the power to deprive the defendant of his liberty for up to six months, a curfew order would keep him inside the house.