A FATHER-OF-TWO saw red when another man smacked his own little boy in front of him, a court heard.

Burnley Magistrates were told how roofer Lee Duane Alderson, 25, told police he had given his friend of 15 years a "good kicking," when he chastised the three-year-old. Alderson told officers he had been abused as a child and took exception to Graham Evans' actions. Alderson, of Berkeley Street, Nelson, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and was bailed until July 10, for a pre-sentence report. The bench told him they were looking towards a community rehabilitation order.

The court was told the defendant and Mr Evans went out and returned to the complainant's home. Both men were in the front room and the aggrieved's three-year-old son kicked his father. Mr Evans slapped his bottom. Alderson told him: "Don't abuse that child in front of me" and Mr Evans told him not to tell him how to treat his children.

The defendant then went berserk, grabbed hold of Mr Evans, threw him into a chair, pinned him down and started to throw punches. The complainant was taken to hospital suffering from a sprained ankle, cuts and bruises and a chipped tooth. Alderson told police he had given Mr Evans a good kicking and said if he was taken to court, he would take his victim with him. He said he had seen red when Mr Evans slapped the boy as he had been abused as a child. Gary Bolton, defending, said both Mr Evans and Alderson had had a considerable amount to drink. The chastisement of the child had had a considerable effect upon the defendant.

He was extremely sorry for what happened.

Mr Bolton added Alderson's wife and the aggrieved's wife were best friends and the assault had had a profound effect on the defendant's marriage. The offence was isolated and a one-off mistake.