A FATHER of two who slashed the throat of a man accused by others of 'touching up' children is behind bars for two years.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Sean Barbour, 31, had at the time been living the life of a 'wino' and drifter and had drunk cider and sherry prior to the attack.

Barbour, whose partner told the court he was now a good father and the family wanted him home, was told by Judge Barbara Watson he was lucky to have someone of her calibre standing by him.

She said the case was very worrying and the offence could have had far more serious consequences for Alexander McLean, the victim.

Barbour, of Richmond Avenue, Accrington, admitted unlawful wounding in June.

Jonathan Dickinson, prosecuting, said the defendant and Mr McLean were friends and used to gather with a group in Accrington to drink 'copious amounts' of alcohol.

There had been hostility towards Mr McLean, who decided to go to the toilets, but the defendant produced a Stanley knife and called him a 'nonce'.

The victim did not feel anything but when he went to the lavatories, he realised he was bleeding quite heavily from a neck wound .

He headed for a phone box to get help, collapsed and was eventually taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary, where he had eight stitches inserted in the wound.

Mr Dickinson said after the offence, Barbour told his sister what he had done and asked her to ring the hospital to see how his victim was. He told police he had been drinking since 10am.

Roger Baldwin, defending, said Barbour very much regretted what happened and accepted he went beyond self-defence after the complainant gripped him by the throat.

At the time he had been living from pillar to post and, unfortunately, when alcohol went in, common sense went out.

The defendant had had a lot to drink and had been with a group of people who had been winding up the complainant and calling him a 'nonce'.

Mr McLean walked away upset, Barbour followed him and said he was having an earnest conversation with the complainant, asking him if he was a 'nonce'.

Mr McLean then grabbed the defendant by the neck. Barbour had the knife with him for cutting carpet and slashed his victim.

Mr Baldwin added that at the time, Barbour had been drifting and was becoming a 'wino'.

He had been studying catering while on remand and was hoping to go to college on his release from custody.