A RAWTENSTALL man has claimed at Burnley Crown Court that he attacked a friend after he called his partner a 'sexy beast' and deliberately groped her.

Neil McAthey, 35, of Bacup Road, has confessed to assaulting Matthew Grimshaw on June 2.

But his barrister John Hargan said there was an element of provocation which could affect the sentence he ultimately receives.

Mr Hargan said Mr Grimshaw allegedly told McAthey: "Where did you get her from? She's a sexy beast'.

Mr Grimshaw is then said to have deliberately fallen on McAthey's girlfriend Claire Higson and grabbed her chest.

The assault then took place against that backdrop, said Mr Hargan.

The girlfriend would be willing to give evidence to back up claims that the fall was deliberate, he added.

Prosecutor Julian Goode said the allegations were not accepted by The Crown and would be contested by Mr Grimshaw and another relation, Timothy Grimshaw, who was also present at the time.

Adjourning the case until October 7, Judge Robert Brown said: "This makes a difference between a custodial and a non-custodial sentence."

The judge ordered a trial centring on the groping issue and released McAthey on bail.

He will be sentenced for the assault at the conclusion of the trial.

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