A SON who who fractured his father’s skull with a plank of wood has been jailed.

Burnley Crown Court heard how on February 2, John Foreman attacked his father following a drunken row.

Prosecuting Stephen Parker said the pair had spent the day fishing with Foreman’s partner Sami Shackleton, her brother Jamie and Foreman’s friend Nicole Dornan where they had drunk alcohol and smoked cannabis.

He said the group had then returned to the home the father and son shared in Raglan Road, Burnley where they were joined by Ms Dornan’s daughter.

Foreman and his dad got into an argument after Ms Dornan’s daughter took a hat with her to the local store.

Mr Parker said: “Gregory Foreman, the father, did not like that she had taken his hat, he said that it was expensive.

“She came back from the shop a few minutes later but the father had locked the door. His son was annoyed and asked for her to be let in.

“The son then removed a piece of wood that was being used to support the back of the door.

“He hit his father across the top of the head."

Reading from the victim impact statement Mr Parker said Mr Foreman had required 10 stitches to his head and had suffered serious psychological effects from the attack.

He said: “Mr Foreman is not sleeping properly, he is constantly thinking about what happened that night.

“He is going to see his GP to see if any further treatment is required."

Defending, Mark Stuart said there was no premeditation and it was out of character for Foreman.

He said: “Those who know him best said it was not something he would do.

“He has a significant criminal past, but has only committed one violent offence.

“He has lost his rag, which is obvious in that it was a single full force blow, there is no suggestion that he tried to hit him again.

“He has stated regret for the pain and injury he has caused and accepts there is no justification for his resorting to violence."

Foreman pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Judge Recorder Mark Laprelle sentenced him to seven years and three months in jail.

Mr Laprelle said: “It was something that happened on the spur of the moment which is what makes it so incomprehensible."