EDGWORTH publican Dennis Bray was punched and kneed by a customer who had worked himself up into a frenzy.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Neil Morton launched his unprovoked attack only minutes after he, the landlord, and another customer had been engaged in friendly conversation.

Morton, 29, of West Bradford, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Bray. He was fined £100 and ordered to pay £175 compensation and £55 costs. He was also excluded from entering the White Horse pub at Edgworth where the attack took place.

David Macro, prosecuting, said Morton had previously been barred from the pub but had been allowed back in after assuring the landlord his behaviour would be much improved. On the evening of the incident he had first gone to the pub at about 5pm when he was in an amiable mood. He left after about an hour and then returned at about 10pm and, after drinking beer, started to drink whisky.

Mr Macro said that, after the barman had gone, Morton started talking to another customer and the landlord joined in. The conversation turned to the way in which the pub was run and Morton suddenly became aggressive.

"He was asked to leave and seemed to work himself up into a frenzy," said Mr Macro. "The other customer tried to restrain him but Morton launched himself at Mr Bray, punching him in the face and then gauging at his right eye. He kneed Mr Bray in the face before he was removed, shouting abuse as he went."

Emma Morrisey, defending, said Morton denied kneeing the landlord in the face, although he accepted he caught him in the upper leg.