A son brutally attacked his ill father during an argument causing him to lose seven teeth and suffer severe lip injuries, a court heard.

Marcus Hartley, 21, pushed his father at their shared home on Stanley Street in Accrington just hours after he had been released from hospital due to heart problems.

Burnley Crown Court heard how the elder Mr Hartley got into an argument with his son on April 3 this year after Marcus left the central heating on full. The court was told he was making ‘little or no contribution’ to the house bills.

Andrew Brown, prosecuting, told the court: “This caused [the father]some concern since he is dependant on benefits.

“He asked his son if he was responsible and an argument developed that then ranged over other matters and ended up with Hartley pushing his father hard.

“He fell to the floor and also banged his body on the side of the cooker and struck his head.”

Mr Brown said Mr Hartley fell unconscious for a few seconds and when he woke up his son lifted his head up by the ear and punched him in the face.

He told the court how Hartley continued to punch his father in the face a total of five times with both hands leaving him without seven teeth and needing 26 stitches to his lower lip.

He also had to have part of his upper lip removed and suffered other injuries to his jaw, arms, legs and rib cage.

When the father threatened to call the police Hartley punched him ‘extremely hard’ before saying ‘Do what you ******* want’ and then fleeing the house.

Mr Brown said Hartley wore a ring which ‘could have exacerbated the injuries’.

A victim impact statement from the father told how he needed hospital treatment and his day-to-day movement had been affected. The court heard how he was only able to eat and drink through a straw and was worried about his appearance and was reluctant to go out.

He said he was in disbelief over what his son had done.

Daniel King, defending, said: “It happened very quickly. He wasn’t targeted because of his health. [Mr Hartley] was living with his father but it clearly wasn’t a smooth or paternal relationship. He apologises for what he did to his father. It was completely unacceptable.”

Hartley pleaded guilty to wounding and was jailed for 20 months.