A DISTRAUGHT man attacked two police officers after finding out both of his parents were having affairs, a court heard.

Burnley magistrates were told how machinist John Valentine, 22, ended up fighting with his mother's boyfriend and when police arrived to break it up, he hit two officers. Valentine, of Burrell Avenue, Colne, was given 40 hours community service and must pay £100 costs and £100 compensation, after admitting using threatening, insulting or abusive words or behaviour and being convicted after trial of two counts of police assault, on January 31. He was told by the bench that police were there to do a job and had to be respected.

Anthony Mazzag, prosecuting, said police were called to a property on Harrison Drive, Colne, at about 11pm, where a fight was going on.

They split it up, but the defendant started to glare at the officers, was abusive, said he was going to have them and struck out at one policeman. He was slurring his words and clearly drunk.

Valentine continued to scream abuse, told another officer he could have some as well and hit him in the face. He was taken to the ground, put in a van and taken to Colne police station, where he continued to be aggressive in the custody office.

Glen Smith, defending, said Valentine had just found out both his father and mother were having affairs and was confused and upset. He went to get a key from his mother, was spoken to by his mother's boyfriend and ended up fighting with the boyfriend and his brother.

Valentine had been extremely upset and confused and put his behaviour down to that and drink. He acted entirely beyond anything he had done before. When certain things were said to him by the boyfriend, he reacted and when police arrived, his frustration moved from the people he was with to the police.

Mr Smith added the defendant was working and the probation service regarded the risk of his re-offending as low.