A TEENAGER who smashed a man's cheekbone with a pool cue, is behind bars for three years.

Burnley Crown Court heard that Michael Pinder, 18, who also committed three burglaries, went round to Anthony Muldoon's house after the victim was said to have called him a smackhead.

He "whacked" Mr Muldoon once with the cue and then struck him again with such force it broke in half.

Recorder Philip Grundy said he had an appalling record, but his previous convictions were mostly for dishonesty.

The judge said he accepted the defendant, who had thought he was going to be attacked, was sorry for his actions, but custody must follow. Pinder, of Lanark Street, Burnley, admitted unlawful wounding and three burglary charges.

Arthur Stuttard, prosecuting, said in March the defendant and victim had a row about a girl. Pinder seemed to be spoiling for a fight, but Mr Muldoon did not want one.

Later that day, Pinder turned up at Mr Muldoon's home but was told to go away. A few minutes later the victim was standing at the kitchen sink with his back to the door when he felt a hard blow to the back of his head. He felt dizzy and stumbled to the floor.

Mr Muldoon was then struck again, suffering a broken cheekbone. He managed to get back to his knees and the defendant tried to strike him a third blow.

Mr Stuttard said the victim was taken to hospital, where he was also found to have suffered bruises, swelling and lacerations.

The prosecutor said that five months on from the trouble, Mr Muldoon reported he had had to move because of the abuse he was being subjected to. He claimed he was not bothered about what sentence Pinder got, all he had wanted was for the defendant to tell the truth and admit he was "out of order." Roger Baldwin, defending, said the wounding was a one-off. Although the defendant had two offences of robbery on his record, he had not been before the courts before for direct violence.

Pinder accepted what he had done was bad and he deserved to be punished.

Mr Muldoon had earlier called the defendant a smackhead at a time when he was trying to come off heroin, said Mr Baldwin. There had then been an argument about a girl and Pinder thought he would sort the situation out.