A TEENAGER who subjected a schoolgirl to a prolonged and serious Christmas Day attack is facing a jail sentence.

Eric Buck's 14-year-old victim was left sobbing and with blood pouring from her mouth and nose after the apprentice engineer repeatedly struck her in Burnley town centre, the town's magistrates heard.

Buck, who had no previous convictions, had his case adjourned for pre-sentence reports by the bench, who told him they thought custody was appropriate and they may commit him to crown court for sentence.

Buck, of Padiham Road, Burnley, was bailed until January 26. He admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.

Neil White, prosecuting, said Buck, 18, had had quite a few drinks before the assault. He slapped the schoolgirl, causing her to scream in pain, and then knocked her to the floor and started hitting and kicking her.

A woman comforted the victim and Buck went over again and started to punch her and hit her a few times in the face. The girl had blood pouring from her nose and mouth and pleaded with her attacker not to hit her again. Two men came out of a pub and stopped Buck as the girl sobbed. Mr White said the 14-year-old girl suffered severe swelling to her face and bruises. She had to have stitches to a split lip. The assault only stopped because of the two men who came to the schoolgirl's aid, and not because the defendant stopped. It was a prolonged and serious attack.

John Greenwood, defending, said Buck was thoroughly ashamed of what happened on Christmas Day. He had let himself and his parents down and his father had been to apologise to the victim's family.

Buck wanted to apologise himself, but the offence took place and he must now face the consequences. Buck had had a thoroughly bad Christmas and suspected the victim would have had too.

The defendant accepted he slapped the girl on a number of occasions and over a long period.

Mr Greenwood urged the court to hit Buck in the pocket and to bear in mind his previous good character and the remorse he had shown.

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