A 10-YEAR-OLD girl was hit on the head with a full can of beer when a man threw it at his brother and missed.

Blackburn magistrates heard the girl was sitting in the garden with her mum when the can sailed over the fence.

The force of the impact knocked out a tooth and two other cans thrown by Wayne Lord caused damage to nearby doors.

Lord, 25, of Hurstwood Avenue, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

He was jailed for 24 weeks and ordered to pay £250 compensation to the girl, and £50 to each of the door owners.

Sending Lord to prison the chairman of the magistrates said the victim had been particularly vulnerable.

“She was a 10-year-old girl sitting in her own garden when she was struck by a full can of beer coming out of the sky,” he said. “I can’t even imagine the trauma.”

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said one of the door owners was the partner of the defendant’s brother and there had been a dispute between the siblings.

Mark Williams, defending, said his client was devastated by what he had done.

“It was not his intention to harm anyone, especially the child,” said Mr Williams.

“He didn’t know the child was there when he threw the can because there was a fence and a caravan between them.”

He said during the row his brother had swung a brush at Lord, driving him away from his house.

“He threw the cans at his brother and one hit the girl who was sitting in her garden,” said Mr Williams.

“It was totally reckless on his part.”