A BURNLEY man serving a jail sentence punched and bit a prison officer trying to serve papers on him.

In addition to his injuries, the officer had to wait six months to see if he had contracted Hepatitis B.

Ash Love's violent outburst earned him a fresh 12 months sentence when he appeared at Preston Crown Court.

Love, 26, formerly of Hind Street, Burnley, had pleaded guilty to an assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Mr Roger Baldwin, prosecuting, said the defendant was in Preston prison last September when he offence arose. He was serving around 12 months for offences including assault with intent to resist arrest.

On September 25, prison officer Paul Saunt had gone to the defendant's cell to hand over papers.

The defendant ripped up the papers and let them fall to the floor. He then tried to slam the door shut, catching Mr Saunt's keys. When the officer went to retrieve his keys he was attacked.

Both men fell sideways onto a bed and Lowe threw punches at him. One punch caught him on the left temple, causing a graze, swelling and bruising.

After that Love tried to bite his leg, but managed to bite a hand instead. This drew blood.

Mr Saunt had a Hepatitis B injection and was given antibiotics. Six months later he had another blood test to check there were no complications.

In police interview Love claimed that he himself had been grabbed by the throat. He suggested any violence he had shown was done in self-defence.

Defence barrister, Miss Amanda Johnson, said Love had been due for release at the beginning of February. He had spent another 10 weeks in custody. He maintained his version of events over what happened.

The defendant had been drug-free for nine months and wanted a last chance to get his life back on track and prove himself.

But Judge Stuart Baker told Love he appeared to see himself as a victim in the case. The offence was so serious that only custody could be imposed.

"You committed what seems to me to have been an unprovoked and a sustained attack on a prison officer, including biting."

He said the officer concerned must have had a certain amount of strain, worrying whether he had contracted a very unpleasant illness.