THE victim of a vicious single-punch assault pleaded with magistrates not to jail the friend who attacked him.

Terrence Cowie told a court how a week after the incident in a Burnley pub it was discovered he had fluid on his brain and he would need a stick to walk for more than six weeks.

He had suffered a detached retina and was left needing glasses for life.

Addressing Blackburn Magistrates Court, Mr Cowie said he and his family had suffered emotional stress because of the attack and he still had nightmares six months on.

But he asked the magistrates to show leniency towards his assailant, Ashley Barritt, who he believed was genuinely remorseful.

“I would like the matter to be dealt with in this court today and I do not want him to have a custodial sentence even though he has put me through so much,” said Mr Cowie.

“His mother has Huntingdon’s disease, he is looking after his grandmother, who he lives with, and he has a lot on his plate.”

Barritt responded by apologising in open court to Mr Cowie and said ‘everything had happened so fast’ and he hadn’t meant to cause him so much trouble.

Barritt, 23, of Friends Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to wounding Mr Cowie and two charges of assaulting police officers.

He was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to do 150 hours’ unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay £250 compensation to Mr Cowie and £50 to each of the police officers and pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Alex Mann, prosecuting, said the men were out with friends celebrating the defendant’s birthday.

“They were in the Turf pub and there was a band on,” said Mrs Mann. “The next thing he knew he was in hospital being treated for an eye injury.”

She said a witness saw the two men standing at the bar having a discussion.

All of a sudden Barritt punched the other man on the side of the face.

“He saw Mr Cowie spin round and fall to the floor,” said Mrs Mann. “He said the power of the punch knocked him out before he hit the floor.

“Mr Cowie had a glass in his hand and suffered cuts to his face, hand and arm.

“He now has to wear glasses because the attack has affected his eyesight.”

Mr Cowie said a week after the incident he couldn’t walk.

He was taken by ambulance to Royal Blackburn Hospital where a CT scan showed he had fluid on the brain.

He said the incident had an enormous emotional impact on him, affecting his social life and his trust in other people.

“I couldn’t believe that someone I knew so well could hurt me so much as to nearly kill me,” said Mr Cowie. “I was unable to sleep because of anxiety and I haven’t been able to socialise the same.”

Nick Dearing, defending, said his client fully accepted that he was in the wrong to strike his friend. “This is a decent young man who will work hard and be a useful member of the community,” said Mr Dearing. “Mr Cowie appears to have taken that view as well.”

The court was told the police assaults occurred when Barritt resisted arrest.