A 16-year-old suffered a broken nose in a rounders bat attack, while his friend ended up bruised and with a lump on his head after trying to intervene.

Burnley magistrates heard how attacker Mark Anthony Mellor, 23, told police he carried the bat for his own protection. He escaped a jail sentence, while a co-defendant who had appeared on the scene with a kitchen knife with a seven-inch blade was also given a community sentence.

Mellor, of Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, was put on probation for two years, and must pay £200 compensation. He admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, common assault and having an offensive weapon in public.

Peter Hardy, 32, of Farholme Lane, Stacksteads, was given a six month probation order and must pay £100 costs. He pleaded guilty to having an offensive weapon in public.

Christiana Buchanan, prosecuting, said the 16-year-old and his friend were at a chip shop on Newchurch Road, at about 11.45pm. Mellor was standing outside and became threatening when refused a chip.

Mellor followed the teenagers and the 16-year-old felt the chips mushed into his face, followed by temporary blindness and intense pain. The youth tried to push Mellor away from him and could feel blood pouring down his face. The defendant then took a swing at his face with a rounders bat, but the teenager pushed him away, narrowly avoiding a second swing.

The 16-year-old ran home covered in blood and his father went out looking for the person who had attacked his son. Mellor became threatening to him and Hardy came from a doorway with a knife in his hands. The 16-year-old was said to have suffered a broken nose.

Mrs Buchanan added Mellor told police he had been abused and struck above his eye. He carried the bat for protection and it had fallen from his pocket.

Basil Dearing, defending, said there was no medical evidence the aggrieved had a broken nose. It was not the most serious injury the court would have to deal with.

Mr Dearing added the defendant had shown an ability to behave himself and was concerned if he was sent to prison he would have to pick up the pieces without the help of probation.

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