A man has avoided jail after admitting assualt.

Jamie Bridson, 25, of Blackburn Road, Accrington, was handed a 16 month sentence, suspended for two years after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Burnley Crown Court.

Bridson was also told he must complete 140 hours unpaid work in the community.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Bridson was attacked by Anthony McCann with a brick, however ‘got the better’ of him during a subsequent fight. Bridson’s defence barrister told the court that he was pleading guilty to the offence on the grounds of ‘excessive self defence’.

After consultation with the victim and police the Crown Prosecution Service accepted Bridson’s plea.

The court heard how Bridson went to visit the complainant because he ‘owed money’ to him and they went out. The pair came to blows and the complainant attacked the defendant with a brick, the court was told.

However CCTV revealed that the defendant ‘got the better’ of complainant.

Bridson was sentenced at Burnley Crown Court on Thursday, July 2.