A TOTALLY innocent victim was punched in the face as he walked into a Burnley town centre pub.

Blackburn magistrates heard the victim suffered a burst nose during the unprovoked attack by a man he had never seen before.

Jake Adam Biriny, 22, of Raglan Road, Burnley, pleaded guilty to assaulting Luke Hartley causing him actual bodily harm.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with a six-month alcohol treatment requirement and 30 days’ rehabilitation requirement.

He was ordered to pay the victim £200 compensation, £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

The court was shown CCTV footage which showed Biriny outside the Bees Knees pub.

Four young men walked into the pub and Mr Hartley was the last of them. As he approached the door Biriny stepped up and punched him, knocking Mr Hartley to the floor.

When he was interviewed Biriny accepted he had drunk at least 10 pints of lager and shots of sambuca.

He said he didn’t know Mr Hartley and could think of no reason why he would assault him.

“He told the police he was going to stop drinking because he gets into trouble when he drinks,” said Mrs Yates.

Phil Turner, defending, said his client could not explain the incident.

“There is a suggestion his drink may have been spiked but it is clear he had drunk a great deal voluntarily,” said Mr Turner.

“He woke up in the cells the following morning and he was shocked to learn what he had been arrested for.”

Mr Turner had not had a drink since the incident in July and had self referred to Inspire, the drink and drug agency.