TWO teenagers were today behind bars after a vicious attack on an innocent man they thought was a paedophile.

Victim Andrew Myerscough was found covered in blood in an alleyway and was left brain damaged and unable to live on his own again following the assault.

James Bibby, 17, and another 17 year old with no previous convictions, who a judge ordered cannot be named, were involved in the attack because they believed he was a paedophile - although there was no tangible proof for that claim, a crown court heard.

Mr Myerscough was left with a severe brain injury after he was set upon in an alley and is now in a rehabilitation unit but the prosecution could not say who caused his injuries.

Both Bibby, who afterwards urinated on Mr Myerscough, and his co-defendant, who spat on him, were said to have been excited and bragged about what they had done and people who saw the blood-soaked victim after the beating said they felt sick.

Bibby, of Beech Street, Accrington, was sent to detention for four and a half years, after admitting attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and burglary of a pensioner's home.

The other 17 year old, from Accrington, was given an 18-month detention and training order, after pleading guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.

A third youth involved in the trouble, Philip Lawrie, 19, of Winewall Lane, Colne, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced later.

He has admitted attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.

Heather Lloyd, prosecuting at Burnley Crown Court, said a fourth man was involved in the attack, possibly slightly before the defendants.

At about 9pm on June 20 last year two people found Mr Myerscough lying in an alleyway off Jacob Street, Accrington. He was unconscious, moaning and covered in blood.

A woman moved his head to help him breathe and a lot of blood and "gunge," came out of his mouth.

Paramedics were called and found his head had swollen, his eyes were black and he was bleeding from his ear, which suggested a fractured skull.

Mr Myerscough had a cut on his back, a broken bottle was found nearby and he was cold and in a state of shock. He was identified only by his bus pass.

As police and paramedics attended to the injured man, a group gathered including the two 17-year-olds who asked if they could help.

The victim was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary in a deep coma, then transferred to hospital in Preston, where he was put on a ventilator and found to have a depressed fracture of the skull and other injuries. The prosecutor said Bibby told police he had smacked the victim a couple of times and kicked him.

His 17-year-old accomplice, who took another youth to see the injured victim, told him he would feel sick, because he had.

Bibby said he had booted Mr Myerscough like he would a football and he was "a proper mess." He said Mr Myercsough looked like a handicapped person.

Miss Lloyd said the other 17-year-old had said he felt sick and wanted the attack to stop because he didn't want to be done for murder.

The youth now played football for local teams, had taken his GCSEs and never wanted to come before a court again.