A 24-YEAR-OLD man who carried out a brutal attack on the head verger inside Blackburn Cathedral thought he was attacking the Grim Reaper.

Blackburn magistrates heard James Desmond Brewin was sectioned under the Mental Health Act shortly after the frenzied attack on Mark Pickering which left him with two fractured ribs and a displaced fracture of an elbow.

Brewin, who is still detained in a mental health unit, pleaded guilty to wounding Mr Pickering causing him grievous bodily harm. He was sent on bail to Preston Crown Court to be sentenced and will appear there on August 3.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said Mr Pickering, 36, had approached Brewin inside the cathedral and asked him: "Can I help you?"

Brewin said, "What is she doing here?" and when Mr Pickering looked over he was punched to the face.

"He fell to the floor and was then punched and kicked repeatedly," said Mr Robinson. "He needed hospital treatment for his injuries."

Paul Huxley, defending, said his client was not shying away from what he had done.

"Back in January when this happened he was a very mixed up individual to say the least," said Mr Huxley. "He was hearing voices and having visual halucinations."

Mr Huxley said Brewin had been to the cathedral on several occasions and knew Mr Pickering.

"When he went in on this occasion he could see a female in the rafters and in his own mind he wanted to protect the people inside," said Mr Huxley.

"Of course there was nobody there.

"When he was spoken to by Mr Pickering he saw the Grim Reaper in front of him and there were a number of other Grim Reapers behind him. It was because of the fear he had that he then lashed out at Mr Pickering."

Mr Huxley said the incident was over in a matter of seconds and was not motivated by any hostility towards Mr Pickering.

"He is extremely upset about what he did but he did it when he was subject to these mental health difficulties," said Mr Huxley.

"According to the staff who have accompanied him to court today he is progressing but he is still subject to the Section."

Sending Brewin to the Crown Court to be sentenced the chairman of the magistrates said they had great 'sympathy and understanding'for his situation.

"However we have heard of a very serious incident, involving someone who was doing his duty in a public capacity and in a public place," he added.