FOUR louts who were part of a vicious gang attack on an innocent father of two in Earby are facing jail terms.

Leigh Jarvis, 21, and Jonathan Farrell, 17, were yesterday convicted of violent disorder and assault causing actual bodily harm, after a four-day trial at Burnley Crown Court.

Michael Jarvis, 24 and Lee MacDonald, 20, had earlier admitted both charges.

The defendants were bailed to Preston Crown Court for the week starting February 13, after their barristers asked for pre-sentence reports. They were warned by Judge Jonathan Foster, QC, prison was a "very strong likelihood".

The judge banned Leigh Jarvis, of Whitehall Street, Nelson, from Earby. Farrell, MacDonald and Michael Jarvis, all now of Goodall Close, Earby, were ordered not to go into the Station Hotel in the town and not to congregate in the vicinity of Colne Road, where the beating took place.

All must observe a curfew between 7.30pm and 7am.

The jury had been told how victim Andrew Thornton was knocked to the ground and subjected to an "horrific" kicking after doing nothing more than asking three youths to move on as they were disturbing his baby daughter, last March 11.

Mr Thornton was set about in front of his wife and children and punched and booted as he pleaded with his assailants to stop.

His distraught wife Joanne tried to help him but was pushed to the ground by Leigh Jarvis.

Mrs Jarvis later picked out Leigh Jarvis as the man who had taken a flying kick at her husband's head.

Factory worker Jarvis had previous convictions for disorder and had a propensity for violence, the court was told.

Neighbour John Cooper, who dashed to Mr Thornton's aid and was scared he would get the same treatment, told the jury how the victim's attackers were like a pack of wild animals, like hounds ripping a hare apart.

Mr Cooper's brother Stuart, an off-duty police officer who was also attacked, finally brought the onslaught to an end by taking a "defensive stance" and issuing commands.

Mr Cooper, an electrical and building contractor, who had once employed MacDonald on a casual basis, described what he saw as "horrendous".

He later picked out Farrell as one of those involved on a video identity parade.

Farrell, who had no previous convictions, claimed to the jury he was not involved in the attack and had walked away.

He said: "I'm not really a fighter." Jarvis claimed he had been told his brother was being assaulted and went to stop it.

Prosecutor David Pickup told the jury: "Mr Thornton suffered bruising and his eye was bleeding. The incident caused upset and distress to his wife and their children."