A FATHER and son kicked and punched a pensioner to death outside a club after he stepped into a row to protect a woman, a court was told.

Preston Crown Court heard John Taylor, 57, and Daniel Taylor, 30, left Barry Tyrie fatally injured outside The Trades Club on Regent Street, Haslingden, on August 25.

Prosecutor Tim Evans said the incident was sparked by Taylor Snr arguing with former girlfriend, Elizabeth Bodycomb, before his son and another man, Tony Wallace, became involved in the dispute.

The row continued before 69-year-old Mr Tyrie stepped in to protect Ms Bodycomb.

Mr Evans said: "Mr Tyrie stepped in to protect her after which the Taylors proceeded to attack Mr Tyrie.

"Following the attack, which was brief but brutal and much of which took place with Mr Tyrie on the floor in no position to defend himself, Mr Tyrie was left on the pavement unconscious."

The court heard how Mr Tyrie never regained consciousness, suffered a bleed to the brain and was pronounced dead at Royal Blackburn Hospital around an hour after the attack.

Mr Evans told the jury they would see CCTV evidence from the evening, as well as hearing evidence from various witnesses, most of whom had been drinking that night.

He said: "Despite this, you may think that they all paint a broadly similar picture of events with the Taylors the aggressors pursuing an attack on Mr Tyrie even when he was on the ground and defenceless.

"This was indeed a joint attack with both delivering blows.

"It may be that Taylor Snr had the initial grudge because of the first argument, and by continuing to shout at his former girlfriend this sparked the fatal attack.

"However it is clear that both the Taylors were involved in repeatedly striking Barry Tyrie, and John Taylor in particular was responsible for delivering what appears to have been a brutal kick."

The court heard police were called at about 10.20pm on Sunday August 25 to a report of a fight outside The Trades Club.

Ms Bodycomb had been in the pub with her sister, Annette Hampson, and her sister's partner Tony Wallace on the night of the attack.

She saw both Taylors come into the pub before leaving an hour later.

When they returned she was on the street outside and was approached by Taylor Snr who began insulting her, the jury heard.

The court heard how she threw a drink at him and he began getting angrier, telling her he was going to 'kill her'.

Mr Evans said: "She thought he was going to hit her so she made a pre-emptive strike, kneeing him in the groin and then moving away.

"A scuffle then broke out between Mr Wallace and Taylor Jnr.

"Customers intervened and the incident ended."

It was then heard that the defendants went to a nearby kebab shop with two relatives but returned to the pub some time later.

Mr Evans added: "You will hear evidence from various witnesses who will say Taylor Snr made his way back to the pub and headed towards Ms Bodycomb.

"You will also hear evidence of how Mr Tyrie stepped between them to protect Ms Bodycomb before being punched on the nose by Taylor Snr.

"Mr Tyrie gets back up and punches Taylor Snr, at which point Taylor Jnr becomes involved, punching Barry and knocking him to the floor before punching him while on the floor, with Barry not fighting back.

"You will hear evidence of how Taylor Snr kicks Barry in the head, and again, he does not respond.

"People then become involved and the Taylors move away."

Mr Evans said a post-mortem examination showed there had been multiple impacts to the head and neck, at least seven.

Mr Tyrie suffered bruising around the right eye, over the nose, on the chin and extensively over the left side of the face and jaw, consistent with and typical of repeated blows from punches, kicks or stamps.

He told the jury: "The defendants were interviewed and you will hear summaries of those interviews.

"Taylor Snr said, and will no doubt repeat that he was acting in self-defence, did not intend to kill Barry Tyrie and was not acting jointly with his son.

"Taylor Jnr said and will no doubt repeat in court that anything he did was in self-defence, or the defence of his father and he too did not intend to kill or cause grievous bodily harm to Mr Tyrie."

The defendants, both of Blackburn Road, Haslingden, deny murder.

The trial continues.