A JEALOUS thug broke into his love rival's caravan and attacked him with a cricket bat while the woman they both thought they were in a relationship with lay yards away.

Burnley Crown Court heard that during the sustained assault defendant Scott Meadway also kicked and punched victim Aran Worthington while he was on the floor.

The court hear that three months before the attack in June Meadway had been to his victim's caravan in Knotts Lane, Colne and smashed the windows.

Jon Close, prosecuting, said that led to a heated telephone conversation between the pair in which 30-year-old Meadway told Mr Worthington to stay away from Natasha Khan, the woman the defendant thought was his girlfriend at the time.

In the build up to the attack Meadway returned to the caravan, banged on the door and demanded to know if Ms Khan was there. He also threatened to return to the caravan with other men, something which he did do on June 25.

Mr Close said: "At 10.30am the complainant was awoken by a smashing noise. He went to investigate, wearing just his underwear. He saw the defendant with two other males. The defendant carrying a bat. The complainant was struck hard over his left cheek. Natasha was screaming stop."

One of the men accompanying Meadway took the bat off him but the defendant kicked and punched Mr Worthington to the head and body while he was on the floor.

As a result of the attack Mr Worthington suffered three broken ribs, a fractured eye socket and cuts to his head which required stitches. A total of £2,000 damage was caused to the caravan.

Meadway, of Skipton Road, Trawden, who has 10 convictions for 26 offences, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.

Mark Stuart, defending, said his client is mortified.

Mr Stuart said: "He is extremely sorry. It is perhaps an understatement that he behaved stupidly. He accepts he behaved very badly. That is why it has to be a custodial sentence."

He continued: "As far as the defendant is concerned he was in fact in a relationship with Ms Khan at the time. What was happening between Mr Worthington and who he considered to be his girlfriend is something he was at first a little surprised about and later angry about. It doesn't justify him behaving the way he did."

Judge Jonathan Gibson jailed Meadway for 26 months and imposed a restraining order banning him from contacting Mr Worthington for three years.

He said: "This was a sustained assault."