A YOUNG scaffolder who left a fellow clubber with a fractured skull has been told he avoided prison “by the skin of his teeth”.

CCTV cameras captured the moment John Crisham punched Alan Turner as rival revellers squared up to each other in the street, Burnley Crown Court was told.

Recorder Christopher Hudson blasted the 21-year-old for appearing to “exult” in the blow, outside Mac’s Bar, in Hargreaves Street, Burnley, just before 5am on November 12, 2017.

But the judge accepted that the father-to-be quickly realised the implications of his actions, within hours of the attack and was remorseful.

Prosecutor Stephen Parker said that Mr Turner still suffered from tinnitus, for some time after the assault.

And the court heard that he later lost his job, because of the amount of time he had to take off work for hospital treatment.

Crisham, of Taylor Avenue, Waterfoot, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Turner.

He was given a 12-month community order, including 200 hours community service and a three-month curfew. He must also play £1,000 in compensation to the victim.

Passing sentence, Recorder Christopher Hudson said: “This was a very serious incident and you have behaved disgracefully.

“You have avoided going to prison by the skin of your teeth.”

Mr Parker said Crisham initially claimed he had been acting in defence of a friend.

But Mr Recorder Hudson ruled it was clear he had taken no active part in the preceding violence, which saw punches thrown between several other individuals.

Philip Holden, defending, said his client was on the periphery of the trouble and had only intervened briefly, if seriously.

An interview with a probation officer afterwards had seen his client display “maturity, insight and contrition”, he added.