A BURNLEY street cleaner suffered a fractured eye socket when he was punched by a former champion junior boxer.

Blackburn magistrates heard Charlie Martin and his friends, who had been drinking, had been taunting the council employee, repeatedly stealing his hat as he tried to go about his early morning duties.

Michael Fletcher eventually pulled one of his tormentors to the floor and as he tried to retrieve his hat was punched by Martin, who was crowned North West regional ABA junior champion class four 70-75kg in 2013.

Martin, 20, of Charles Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to wounding Mr Fletcher causing him grievous bodily harm. He was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months and made subject to a community order for 12 months with 200 hours unpaid work. He was ordered to pay £500 compensation to Mr Fletcher, £85 costs and £115 victim surcharge.

Scott Ainge, prosecuting, said Mr Fletcher was working in the pedestrian area outside Boots in Burnley town centre at about 8.50 am with some colleagues. Martin and two other males approached and one of the colleagues said: "Oh it's them again."

The court heard that Mr Fletcher got into his sweeper vehicle and one of the males climbed in and apologised, saying he was drunk. Mr Ainge said there followed a series of incidents were items of equipment and Mr Fletcher's hat were taken.

"At one stage the three men were dancing round Mr Fletcher throwing his hat from one to the other as he tried to retrieve it," said Mr Ainge. He said Martin and his friends left but returned 20 minutes later. Martin apologised and offered his hand but then pinched his hat again and ran off.

"Mr Fletcher pleaded with him to return the hat and at that point one of the friend took it and ran off," said Mr Ainge. "Mr Fletcher grabbed him by the collar and they fell to the floor. While he was on the floor the defendant ran over and punched him."

Mr Ainge said a subsequent X-ray showed a fractured eye socket and Mr Fletcher was in agony for a number of days.

"The right side of his face was numb and he had severe headaches," said Mr Ainge. He said the incident was captured on CCTV and Martin was recognised by a police officer who used to go to the same boxing gym as the defendant.

Mark Williams, defending, said his client had no previous convictions. He and the two other males, who he didn't know, were "messing around."

"He realised it wasn't funny as soon as he was told of the injuries," said Mr Williams.

He said Martin had never been a professional boxer.

"It was something he did as a junior and it was a good discipline for him," said Mr Williams. "His mother thinks he went off the rails a bit when he stopped going to the gym."