A MAN who went to the aid of a damsel in distress ended up kicking her attacker unconscious.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Michael Maher, 23, reacted to the girl's false claim that she had been raped.

And his victim, Jason Parkington, suffered a broken arm in the brutal attack that followed.

Mr Parkington claimed he was kicked repeatedly after being knocked to the floor and eventually passed out.

Maher, of Alma Place, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Parkington. He was bailed for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Neil White, prosecuting, said Mr Parkington and the girl had spoken in the Dog Inn and she had walked off. She claimed Mr Parkington followed and pinned her against the wall before slapping her across the face.

She said Maher witnessed the blow and intervened.

"She saw Maher hit the other man in the face but didn't see anything else because she was crying and walked off," said Mr White.

Maher accepted assaulting Mr Parkington but said he didn't intend to cause as much damage as he did.

"He said he saw red after the girl claimed she had been raped," added Mr White.