TWO men have been jailed for an attack which left an epilepsy sufferer with a blood clot on the brain.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Bryn Reynolds and Simon Russell continued to beat victim Allan Pilkington while he was having a fit.

Mr Pilkington was put on a ventilator after the assault in April and spent two weeks in hospital.

When the defendants were arrested, Russell, who believed Mr Pilkington had indecently assaulted his girlfriend, threatened to kill him and said he was glad he was in hospital.

Reynolds, 27, of Cherry Crescent, Oswaldtwistle, was jailed for three years. Russell, 22, of Chester Close, Blackburn, received 21 months. Both admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Mark Lamberty, prosecuting, told the court that in March, Pilkington, then 21, formed an association with single mother Paula Hastie, 37, who lived in Accrington. The couple knew the defendants and Russell's girlfriend told the defendant Mr Pilkington touched her leg.

On April 12, the defendants were at a house on China Street, Accrington, and got drunk. The victim and Hastie were at her home when the defendants turned up at 9.40pm.

Russell took off his jacket, approached Mr Pilkington, who was sitting on a sofa and accused him of indecent assault. Mr Pilkington denied it but was punched. Both men then repeatedly hit Mr Pilkington in the face.

Mr Pilkington was then pulled on to the floor and kicked to the head and body. The pair carried on the attack even though Miss Hastie shouted to them to stop as the victim was having a fit.

They finally ended the onslaught when a man staying at the house told them enough was enough. Reynolds threatened Miss Hastie with violence if she told police.