A MAN involved in an accident when a young boy ran in front of his car was attacked by the child's father.

Four of the victim's teeth were dislodged and he needed extensive medical treatment after he was hit when the blow also broke his car window.

At the time Christopher Wells was on licence from prison, having been released from an earlier custodial sentence.

Wells, 20, of Scholes Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to an actual bodily harm assault. He was jailed for a year.

Preston Crown Court heard that John Burrow was driving along Nancy Street in Darwen last August.

David Macro, prosecuting, said he saw a taxi partially blocking the road with a door open, thus narrowing the gap.

He was doing a slow speed and in first gear as he passed the taxi. He heard a bump as he was passing.

He stopped, wondering what had happened.

His driver's window was then smashed inward as he was punched in the face.

Wells was shouting at him.

Mr Maacro said: "He was dazed by the blow and sat there for a few minutes before getting out and realising he had hit a child.

"Police and ambulance attended. Mr Burrow would not make a complaint about the assault at the time, but subsequently did after a few weeks. He had to undergo extensive medical treatment for four teeth in his lower jaw.

"Two months after the assault, he was still on liquids, unable to chew."

The prosecution said there had simply been an accident with the child having run out in front of the vehicle.

Wells told police he had got out of the taxi and his three year old son had been left in the vehicle with a mate.

He went to an adjacent house, saw the vehicle approaching and realised there would be an accident with his son.

He had shouted to his friend to grab the child, which he tried to do, but could only partly pull the youngster out of the way. The car went over his leg.

Wells said he carried the boy to the house and heard someone shout that the driver was trying to leave the scene. There was no other evidence that he was trying to leave, said the Crown.

The result was that Wells ran back towards the car and punched the window, in doing so, punching Mr Burrow to the face.

The defendant had previous convictions for wounding, attempted robbery and in January 2006 was dealt with for affray. At the time of the latest offence he was on licence.

Mr Martin Hackett, defending, said Wells panicked and over reacted when he thought the driver was trying to leave the scene.

He said: "He reacted in a wholly inappropriate way and committed the offence. The defendant is genuinely sorry for what he did. "