A GOOD Samaritan was bitten and punched by a man he went to help.

Blackburn magistrates heard the victim offered his hand to drunken Scott Melia and thought he was taking it to help him keep his balance.

Instead he bit his hand, breaking the skin, before falling down again. Despite the first assault Levi Sutcliffe helped Melia up again and this time he was punched several times on the jaw.

Melia, 36, of Preston New Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Sutcliffe. He was made subject to a community order for nine months with 15 rehabilitation activity days and made subject to a curfew for four weeks between 7pm and 7 am. He was ordered to pay £150 compensation, £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Alex Mann, prosecuting, said Mr Sutcliffe had been to Royal Blackburn Hospital with his girlfriend when they saw Melia staggering towards them covered in blood. Mr Sutcliffe asked if he was alright and Melia grabbed his hand.

"He though he was just trying to keep his balance but he bit his hand before falling over," said Mrs Mann. "Mr Sutcliffe helped him up again and was walking away when the defendant came after him and punched him several times to the jaw. Mr Sutcliffe was just someone trying to be a Good Samaritan."

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client apologised profusely for what had happened. He said on the day of the incident Melia had gone to see his mother in hospital but by the time he got there she had died.

"He was completely overwhelmed emotionally," said Mr Taylor. "He went home and drank a great deal of vodka and doesn't remember a great deal after that."

Mr Taylor said it was clear that at some stage Melia had been assaulted.

"He was drunk and stumbling along when the aggrieved, to his credit, came over to assist him," said Mr Taylor. "My client thought he was under attack again and has reacted. It is unfortunate that this has happened to someone who was genuinely trying to assist my client."