A CARAVAN park owner was hit over the head with a broom as he tried to sort out a domestic dispute in one of the vans on his site.

Blackburn magistrates heard that during the struggle the owner ended up with the brush and hit his assailant, Craig Kennedy, with it.

And the court was told the woman he was trying to protect from Kennedy refused to make a statement of complaint.

Kennedy, 51, of High Street, Colne, pleaded guilty to assaulting Ray Miller at the Oakfield Lodge caravan park, Birchenlee Lane, Colne, on January 9. and assaulting an emergency worker in the execution of her duty.

He was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £300 compensation to police constable Michaela Bottomley.

He was made subject to a restraining order for two years which prohibits him from entering the caravan park.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said Mr Miller responded to a commotion coming from a caravan and saw Kennedy assaulting a female.

"He intervened to protect the lady and was assaulted himself," said Mr Robinson.

PC Bottomley went to Kennedy's home address to arrest him after he failed to turn up at court for the caravan site assault last month.

He tried to run away and as she grabbed hold of him she was dragged to the floor and suffered injuries to her knees and arms.

Mark Williams, defending, said everything started with a domestic with his girlfriend after which she didn't want to make a complaint.

"He says there was no need for anyone else to get involved but clearly Mr Miller thought differently," said Mr Williams.

"When the officer came to arrest him he knows he should have gone quietly."