A BUILDING company boss and bit-part actor attacked three guests at a hotel in a "few moments of madness", a court heard.

Trevor Williams (34), of Redvales Road, Bury, appeared for sentence after being convicted of two charges of unlawful wounding and one offence of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Preston Crown Court was told that Williams and his girlfriend had gone for a meal at Northcote Manor in Langho, Blackburn, on December 28 last year in an attempt to put a "dreadful" year behind him.

The defendant and his girlfriend's family had been dining in one room. Two other men and their wives, from the Cheshire area, had gone to have dinner and stay overnight at the hotel.

At around 11.30pm they had retired for after dinner drinks.

Miss Katie Jones, prosecuting, said the defendant entered the room where the two couples were. Williams was said to have gone on to boast of having won the Lottery. One of the other group made a comment along the lines of "Why then are you only wearing a Burton's suite?"

Williams went to leave the room, but turned back and began to attack James Greig who was sat in an armchair. He punched him several times to the head.

His friend, Andrew Ramsay, tried to help by putting the defendant in a headlock and shouting for him to stop the attack.

In scenes that followed, Williams allegedly tried to poke Mr Ramsay in the eye and grab at his face.

He also bit Mr Greig's left forearm and left knee, while Mr Ramsay was bitten to the chest.

A night porter who heard the disturbance was bit on a finger when he intervened.

Williams, who did not have any previous convictions, was taken to Blackburn Infirmary for treatment. He told police that the others had been the aggressors.

Mr Mark Stuart, defending, said there had been minor provocation and Williams had probably had too much to drink.

He had gone for a pleasant night out to put behind him a very difficult year, which had involved his stepdad being accused of murder and later committing suicide while in custody.

"He accepts he behaved badly, but it was a one-off, occurring at what had been a very difficult time for him," added Mr Stuart.

Williams was said to work hard running his own building company. He also did bit parts in various soaps.

Judge Robert Brown imposed an 18 months community rehabilitation order, and directed the defendant to pay a total of £4,000 in compensation, plus £643 costs.

He told him: "By a few moments of madness you jeopardised a lifetime of good behaviour and honest hard-working endeavour.

"For a minimal amount of provocation you lost your temper and hit the man who insulted you.

"When others came to his assistance you attacked them".