A TRIO of attackers have walked free from court after a three-part melee which terrorised a young couple and left the woman injured.

Toni Lawson, 20, suffered cuts, bruises and a suspected broken arm after the trouble, started by Claire Tattersall, 17, for no apparent reason.

Tattersall's boyfriend, Graham Haynes, who had escaped from jail so he could celebrate his 21st birthday at liberty, joined in and Miss Lawson's partner was set upon.

Samantha Mulberry, 19, was also involved after the defendants had turned up at Miss Lawson's Burnley home, the town's Crown Court heard.

Miss Lawson and her partner were so scared as windows were smashed at their property that they climbed out of the bathroom and down a drainpipe. The first attack on Miss Lawson had lasted 15 minutes.

Sentencing, Recorder L Lowe said the offences were disgraceful. He said Tattersall had taken matters into her own hands "particularly violently," and had confronted Miss Lawson about a debt she was said to owe Mulberry's mother.

The judge said the offences crossed the custody threshold but told the trio: "I have thought long and hard about whether my public duty requires me to send you to custody today. I can just about avoid doing that."

Recorder Lowe said Tattersall had seemed to have acted very much out of character. At the time she had had problems and had turned to drink.

Tattersall, of Caernarvon Avenue and Haynes, of Reed Street, admitted common assault, assault causing actual bodily harm and damage.

Mulberry, of Stoney Street, pleaded guilty to common assault.

Tattersall was given two years supervision, with 150 hours community service.

Mulberry received nine months supervision and 40 hours community service. Haynes, who has been in custody, got two years supervision, with 80 hours community service and the Think First programme.

The court was told that on July 9, Miss Lawson was at home when Tattersall and Mulberry turned up.

The victim ran upstairs, Tattersall followed her and she was punched and kicked. Mulberry became involved but the assault then ended when Mulberry tried to get her co-accused to stop.

Miss Lawson was bruised but did not report the incident to the police. A few days later there was an almost identical confrontation "for some bizarre reason" the court heard.

Miss Lawson's front door was open as it was a warm night and Tattersall turned up, demanding "Where is she?" The victim fled upstairs and hid under a bed.

She was then subjected to violence again and Tattersall shouted to her boyfriend: "Graham, stamp on her head".

Miss Lawson's partner, Shaun Rushton, was attacked by Haynes. Miss Lawson ran to a neighbour's house but was pursued.

She needed hospital treatment for cuts and bruises and it was at first suspected her arm was fractured.

The court was told that on July 14, Tattersall and Haynes turned up at the couple's house again and smashed windows.

The victims escaped down a drainpipe, which, the court heard was a "very clear reflection of the fear they were feeling."