A BURNLEY pub landlady said to have inflicted "life threatening" injuries on one of her best customers was today behind bars awaiting a jail term.

Michelle "Shelley," Lord, 38, who runs the Plane Tree Hotel, Westgate, had attacked builder and ex-convict Edward Denton with a baseball bat because she thought he had raided her farmhouse home, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Mr Denton, who had told the jury he still held her in affection even after what she had done, suffered serious head injuries and it was at first feared he may not survive. He was taken to Burnley General Hospital and later transferred to Blackburn Royal Infirmary after the early hours assault at the pub in January.

Lord was yesterday found guilty of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm after a week long trial which ended with the jury deliberating for about three hours. She was remanded in custody until Nov 14 for a pre-sentence report, by Judge Raymond Bennett, who warned her prison was "inevitable."

The judge had refused a bail application by Elizabeth Brennan, defending, who had told the court Lord was "lightly convicted," and had never before faced an accusation of such gravity.

The defendant was cleared of assaulting Mr Denton's boss Shane Ashurst, causing him actual bodily harm, causing damage to his van and of robbing or stealing £30 from Mr Denton.

Her girlfriend Helen Dodgeon, 29, who lived with her at Higher Gibfield Farm, Manchester Road, Burnley, had been charged with assault causing actual bodily harm, wounding with intent and an alternative count of unlawful wounding. She was found not guilty of all charges .

Both women, who had denied all the allegations, sobbed in the dock as the verdicts were announced.

Arthur Stuttard, prosecuting, had told the court Mr Denton was walking past the Plane Tree on January 17 when Lord called him in.

She attacked him with the baseball bat and was later found slumped against the bar and bleeding when police answered a call from her claiming Mr Denton had broken in.

One officer reported Lord standing over her victim saying: "Why have you burgled my house, Eddie?"

Mr Stuttard said Lord later realised she had been wrong in jumping to the conclusion Mr Denton had burgled her farmhouse -- and sent him a £20 bunch of flowers with a note saying :"Sorry," as he lay in hospital.

The prosecutor added it was likely others were involved in the beating, as a footprint was found on Mr Denton's head and it was not Lord's. The defendant's counsel Tim Brennand had suggested other people had inflicted Mr Denton's injuries and not the defendant and her partner.

Mr Denton told the jury he had considered the two women "good mates," and said the assault should never have happened. He said he had looked on both with affection -- and still did in a "roundabout sort of way."

On the third day of the trial, Burnley second-hand goods dealer Alec Cunningham, alleged by Lord's barrister to have been among people looking for Mr Denton before the attack, was jailed for eight months after it was said he had walked into the court cafe and threatened to break Mr Denton's legs.

Cunningham, 44, who has a shop in Plumbe Street in the town, was jailed after an allegation of contempt of court was proved.

Mr Denton claimed Cunningham leaned over his table and asked him what he was "playing at," giving evidence. Mr Denton said Cunningham told him he would get his legs broken ."

Judge Bennett told the jury Cunningham did not suggest he was put up to it by either defendant.