A THUG who launched a vicious, bottle attack which left a father-of-three scarred for life, has been jailed for 29 months.

Phillip Collinge, 31, had struck as he and victim Simon Hackett walked between pubs in Waterfoot. Mr Hackett was hit, he alleged, almost 10 times with the bottle and staggered back to one of the pubs, bleeding heavily.

He was taken to hospital and three deep head wounds were stitched, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Collinge, who has 37 offences on his record, nine of them for violence, had admitted wounding. The defendant, of Riverside, Bacup, was also given a five year restraining order, banning him from going within 100 metres of Mr Hackett's home.

Sarah Johnston, prosecuting, said the victim went out to the Boot and Shoe pub, where he was a regular on Friday evenings.

The defendant was also there and a couple of weeks before, there had been an incident between Collinge and Mr Hackett's brother at a funeral. There may have been some bad blood between the defendant and the brother.

Shortly after 10pm, Mr Hackett was leaving the pub and was heading to the Jolly Sailor. Collinge spoke to him as he left, referred to what happened at the funeral and the victim interpreted what Collinge was saying as an attempt to make peace.

Mr Hackett suggested they go to the Jolly Sailor together for a drink. Miss Johnston said as the defendant was slightly behind Mr Hacett, he struck him with a glass bottle. The victim went down onto one knee and Collinge then kicked him in the body.

The prosecutor said Mr Hackett had been scarred for life, with permanent marks to his face and head.

She continued: β€œHe says the hardest thing for him was the impact on his three children. They were extremely upset to see his injuries and that has caused him the most distress.”