A MAN launched an "ugly" attack on a defenceless man in a pub toilet.

Blackburn magistrates heard Matthew Desmond Irvine repeatedly punched the other man as he cowered, raising his hands to protect himself.

And the court was told the attack only ended when a member of the public pointed out to Irvine that the incident was being captured on CCTV.

Irvine, 28, of Berry Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to assaulting Trevor Hollins.

He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months with a six months alcohol treatment requirement.

He was ordered to pay £100 compensation and £115 victim surcharge.

District Judge James Clarke viewed the CCTV footage of the incident in the toilets of The Big Window pub and said he had seen a sustained assault in a confined place.

"The aggrieved was pleading with you to stop hitting but you continued even as he went to the floor," said District Judge Clarke.

"The aggrieved was cowering on the floor of the toilet and did nothing except ask you to stop."

He said the incident came 12 months after Irvine had been jailed for an assault and that had come on the back of two other prison sentences for assault.

"This was an ugly attack in a public place on someone who was all but defenceless," he said.

Having heard that Irvine had been out of trouble since the offence in July 2018 and appeared to be making progress in his life the Judge said he was prepared to give him a chance by suspending the sentence.

Phillip Turner, defending, said the two men were acquainted.

The aggrieved approached his client in the pub and hugged him which he thought was strange.

"When he went into the toilets he though the other man was hostile towards him," said Mr Turner.

"It is clear there was a time when he should have walked away, whether there was provocation or not."