AN alcoholic who launched a brutal and unprovoked street attack on a vulnerable brain injured man could have killed him, a court heard.

Burnley Crown Court was told how victim Leonard Burgess, 39, had been in a coma for a year after a road smash in 2000, had physical difficulties and walked with a stick. He was not to take part in any activity which might result in a blow to the head as it could prove fatal.

But, the hearing was told, drunken Nathan Moore set about Mr Burgess at a bus stop in the centre of Burnley, pushing him and knocking him off balance.

He then kicked him in the body and rained blows on his head while he was on the ground.

The victim believed he had been hit on the head with his walking stick, which had been snatched from his hands during the frenzied Saturday afternoon beating.

Horrified passers-by and motorists, including several women, bravely rushed to the victim’s aid, tried to protect him and called the police and an ambulance.

Mr Burgess, who had been in Burnley shopping, escaped with two cuts to the top of his head, a burst nose and a cut to his eyebrow.

Moore, 29, has built up a long criminal record over the last three years, which includes harassment, arson, previous violence and repeated offences of being drunk and disorderly.

The court was told it was getting worse and in the last 18 months, he had made more than 15 court appearances and had served 10 months in custody.

Just weeks ago the defendant had been given a 12-month community order with an alcohol treatment programme by Pennine magistrates for another unprovoked attack, when he had dragged a man off the street in Rawtenstall in a grudge assault. He attacked Mr Burgess about two weeks later.

The defendant is now back behind bars, after he was locked up for 20 months.

Moore, recently living at Mount Pleasant, Whitworth, has admit-ted assaulting Mr Burgess, causing him actual bodily harm, on August 2 and had been committed for sentence by the lower court.

Defending Moore, Joanna Rodikis said there was reference in the pre-sentence report to the fact that the defendant may have some significant difficulties which may need to be explored.

Sentencing, Judge Simon Newell said Mr Burgess was vulnerable, having sustained a ‘very nasty injury’ in the road traffic accident.

The assault was aggravated by the fact it was in public, in the centre of Burnley and a number of passers-by and motorists intervened.

The judge said: “It’s highly commendable, the role they played.”