A MAN who beat up a builder until his girlfriend thought he was dead has kept his freedom.

David Wrigley had at first walked away from Paul Berry but then went back, picked up a piece of plaster and hit him with it, a court was told.

When Mr Berry fell to the ground, the defendant then punched him repeatedly.

The defendant, of Peter Street, Rishton, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.

Wrigley was told by Judge Beverley Lunt: "Nothing can possibly excuse or explain your violent actions against this poor man."

But the Burnley Crown Court judge, who head read a testimonal from Rishton Social Club, where Wrigley has been a member for 20 years, added she was satisfied the attack was a one-off and the defendant was not a risk to the public at large. She added: "I will give you a chance this time."

Wrigley, 33, was given a 24-week jail term, suspended for a year, with 100 hours unpaid work. He must also pay £300 compensation and £250 costs.

David Macro, prosecuting, said Mr Berry had known the defendant since they were at school.

He was with his girlfriend Lesley O'Connor in the beer garden at the Roebuck, Rishton, last July. Wrigley arrived, started to butt into their conversation and began to get aggressive and asked Mr Berry if he wanted "a do" when they asked him to chill.

Wrigley then drank up and left and that was all the victim remembered until he came round in an ambulance shortly afterwards, the court was told.

Mr Macro said Miss O'Connor saw the defendant run towards her partner and bring a rock or brick down hard onto his head. She said Mr Berry went to the ground and was then punched.

The prosecutor went on: "She describes thinking her boyfriend was dead.

"He was certainly unconscious and looked bad. He was taken to hospital."

Mr Macro said Mr Berry suffered a large lump and cut to his head, his eyes were swollen and bruised, his lip swollen and his forehead was gashed.

The court was told since the attack the victim had suffered headaches and had been nervy about going out.

Wrigley had no previous convictions.

Mark Stuart, defending, said the offence was out of character.

The defendant had never caused any problems to anybody at Rishton Social Club. Wrigley had his own business and employed two others.

The barrister claimed there had difficulties between the men.

He went on: "The defendant just snapped with what's gone on over the years. He just lost it."