A MAN left a woman with a serious facial injury after attacking her following a row over a dog, a court heard.

John Wayne Crossley, 25, left victim Michelle Edwards with a serious facial injury after turning up at her front door, hitting her and then kicking her while she was on the ground.

Crossley, of Nuttall Street, Burnley, had earlier admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm following the incident on January 29.

He was given a community order with 12 months supervision, 80 hours unpaid work and told to attend the CALM - controlling anger and learning how to manage it - programme.

Crossley had spent five months in custody since April 19 and the judge said that was enough.

Sentencing, Recorder Gordon Wood, told the defendant his conduct was totally irrational and defied any kind of logic.

Recorder Wood said did not accept Crossley had been provoked and told him he had no right to act in the way he had done, no reason to be at the house, however drunk he may have been, and there was no justification for pursuing the argument.

The judge added: "This was an appalling attack with unpleasant injuries.

"I have no doubt that you were well aware what you did was completely unecessary and unprovoked."

Recorder Wood said he was quite satisfied the custodial threshold had been passed, but he did not believe it was in the public interest to detain Crossley in prison any longer.

The court was told Crossley accepted responsibility for Miss Edwards' injuries, but claimed excessive self defence after others started the violence.

It was not suggested Miss Edwards had set about him.

The defendant had 19 previous convictions.

Charles Brown, defending, said Crossley had spent five months in custody and had served the equivalent of a 10-month sentence.

It may be the punishment element was more than amply catered for by the time he had spent behind bars, he added.