A FATHER-OF-THREE who hit a man over the head with a hammer in an armed gang attack was today starting a 15-month jail term.

Burnley Crown Court heard how self employed brickie Farooq Bashir's brother had told him he had been stabbed three times. On impulse, the defendant then went round to the victim's house wearing his tool belt and gashed his head five times.

The complainant also suffered a smashed shin bone in the fracas, but that injury was caused by another assailant wielding a crowbar.

Sentencing the defendant, said by his barrister to have lost his business, Judge Raymond Bennett said he hoped when he was released Bashir would think before he acted.

Bashir, 25, of Abel Street, Burnley, had earlier admitted unlawful wounding, last October.

Mark Lamberty, prosecuting, said the victim had rowed with the defendant's brother and a fight erupted in a taxi office in the early hours.

As the complainant was later leaving his house, about 10 Asian youths turned up. Bashir was armed with a hammer in each hand and hit the victim. The man then fled, chased and was trying to get into a car.

He eventually got into a hardware shop and sought refuse from the pursuing gang.

Mr Lamberty said the victim got two hammers from the display, brandished them and was attacked again. Bashir hit him on the head and as he tried to protect himself and another gang member struck the victim's legs with a crowbar.

The attackers then made off and the complainant was taken by ambulance to hospital where he was found to have suffered five large lacerations to his head.

He also had bruises to his chest and the broken shin. The defendant was arrested, interviewed and was picked out as one of the attackers by the defendant on an identity parade.

John Mars, defending, said although Bashir had violence related offences on his record, he had no convictions for assault and had not been to prison before.

He was a self employed bricklayer and employed two others as labourers. He realised he would lose his liberty and his business.

Before the offence, the defendant had had no axe to grind with the victim, but his brother had told him he had been stabbed three times.

Bashir realised his behaviour had been disgraceful but it was not one-sided. The defendant had also been left scarred.

Mr Mars said Bashir had a home and two young daughters and could not afford to go to prison. He had acted on impulse but his brother did not have the injuries he believed he had and Bashir had now stopped contact with him.

The barrister added the defendant's wife would now be left to look after their children alone and while in jail he would have a very good opportunity to reflect on his behaviour.