A FATHER of two, found with a baseball bat, was hunting men who attacked his younger brother, a court was told.

Burnley Magistrates heard how Peter James Lockwood, 31, told police his brother had been beaten up by five men and he was "going to do something about it."

Lockwood, a trimmer, of Andrew Road, Nelson, admitted possessing an offensive weapon and was given an 18 months conditional discharge with £69 costs.

Joanne Shahzada, prosecuting, said police went to Hargreaves Street, Nelson, and saw the defendant carrying a baseball bat. He was with two other men and they turned into a back alley.

Officers spoke to Lockwood who said he was going to do something about his brother being beaten. He then changed his story, claiming he and his companions were going to play baseball.

Geoff Ireland, defending, said Lockwood had received a phone call from his father saying his 18-year-old brother had been beaten up.

His brother was bruised and battered and police were called. The defendant went to where he believed two of the men lived.

They were going to attack him with bats so he disappeared rather sharply, decided to go home and went back armed with a bat.

Mr Ireland said Lockwood was aggrieved because his brother was hurt. The police said his brother did not look badly injured and told him to go home.

They weren't particularly interested in arresting the people he saw as the instigators of the trouble but he was arrested.