A UNIVERSITY student from Clitheroe was spared jail for an attack on a fellow undergraduate after his victim pleaded for leniency.

Victim David Foo was punched and kicked in the head by criminology student James Drinkall, a former pupil at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn.

Michael Cranmer-Brown, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court that the late night incident occurred when Drinkall became upset at remarks directed at his girlfriend by Foo.

Drinkall went to Mr Foo's room at the university's Brayford campus in Lincoln and attacked him, leaving him sprawled on the floor with blood pouring from his nose, the court was told.

Mr Foo, from Gosforth, Newcastle, was taken to Lincoln County Hospital but released after treatment in the accident and emergency unit.

Mr Cranmer-Brown said: "He suffered damage to the hearing in his right ear which he understands will be permanent."

The court was told that Mr Foo, who was not in court, later made a written statement pleading for Drinkall not to go to jail.

Mr Foo said: "I don't want him to go to prison. I don't want to destroy his life.

"I've nothing against him except he has caused my injuries. It won't bring back my hearing by sending him to prison."

Drinkall, 19, now of Yarborough Road, Lincoln, admitted causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Foo in the early hours of February 1.

He was given 240 hours community punishment and ordered to pay £1,500 compensation to Mr Foo and £250 prosecution costs.

Judge John Machin said he was taking an "exceptional" course partly because of Mr Foo's view of what should happen.