A LABOURER who "flipped" and gave a construction firm supervisor "a significant beating," was today starting an 18-month jail term.

Burnley Crown Court heard how father of three and voluntary worker Lee Neill, 29, saw red after being blamed for damage to a driveway.

He took a pickaxe handle from his car boot and set about victim Paul Riley, who suffered serious injury.

Sentencing, Judge Barbara Watson said she accepted the defendant was a hard working family man and was genuinely sorry, but he had lost control and committed a serious act of violence.

She added Neill gave Mr Riley "a significant beating," while he was on the floor and only the intervention of another worker brought it to an end.

The defendant, of Willows Lane, Accrington, earlier admitted assault.

David Pickup, prosecuting, told the court Mr Riley worked for Moyar Construction, Hibson Road, Nelson, and had been told by the managing director to sack the defendant.

Neill had crashed a digger he should not have been driving and the victim urged him to apologise. Neill squared up to Mr Riley , a row followed and the defendant knocked Mr Riley down with a piece of timber. He then went to his car boot, took out a "stick," struck Mr Riley repeatedly and told him not to mess with him.

Mr Pickup said Mr Riley went to hospital after suffering bruising, but no bone injury.

The defendant, who had threatened to break another employee's legs, was later arrested.

Philip Holden, defending, said Neill had effectively been self-employed and had been working on the footings for a driveway.

The complainant and others had then arrived and damage had been caused.

The day after, Neill was tackled by the complainant who had spoken to a director of the firm. The defendant had been blamed for the damage.

Neill was worried about losing his job, and after he told the director he was not responsible, problems arose between the director and Mr Riley.

Mr Holden said Mr Riley then "fronted up," to Neill who told him he wasn't losing his job through him.

Mr Riley punched him, causing him to hit a manhole cover he was leaning over at the time.

Mr Riley threatened the defendant if he ever saw him in Burnley he would 'batter' him.

The barrister said at that stage Neill lost his temper, took out the pickaxe handle from his car boot and attacked the supervisor about six times to his side.

He was quite shocked by the extent of the injuries he had caused to Mr Riley.

Mr Holden added the defendant, who worked voluntarily with drug addicts and hoped for a career change in that direction, was ashamed of his actions.

He was now employed for a civil engineering firm, worked long hours and custody would have a devastating effect on he and his family.