A MAN has been given a suspended prison sentence for attacking a taxi driver who he thought was lusting after his girlfriend.

Neil John Hardy, 20, of Row Greave Road, Oswaldtwistle, has pleaded guilty to assaulting Kalid Hussain in Accrington just before midnight on November 12 last year.

The case was transferred to Bolton Magistrates Court because of his family's connections with the Blackburn court.

Joanna White, prosecuting, told how Mr Hussain had been waiting in his taxi to collect a fare when Hardy and his heavily pregnant girlfriend came out of the Stanley Street Members' Club.

Hardy accused Mr Hussain of looking at his girlfriend and kicked the taxi door before walking away. He then returned to the taxi and punched Mr Hussain in the face four or five times.

Police attending the area on another matter had the offence reported to them by Mr Hussain and Hardy was arrested.

Mr Hussain went to hospital and was given painkillers for a cut nose, bruised forehead and cut mouth. The court heard how Hardy has previous convictions for assault and affray.

Peter King, defending, said: "This young man went through a period of teenage rebellion which led to a serious fragmentation of the parental/child relationship.

"Most of the offences were committed at home and towards his father." He added that the family relationships have now been mended.

Mr King stressed that Hardy, who had been drinking, had perceived that Mr Hussain had been lusting after his girlfriend and the offence, which did not result in serious injury, was committed due to a combination of emotion and alcohol.

Magistrates sentenced Hardy to four months in custody, suspended for 18 months. He was also given an 18 month supervision order, ordered to attend an alcohol abuse course, ordered to do 50 hours unpaid work and to pay £250 compensation to his victim and £50 court costs.