A POLICE community support officer quit his job after he was attacked while on a night out in Burnley, a court heard.

Marcus Locke was off-duty when he accidentally bumped into Declan McKenna, 19, in a doorway last April.

McKenna and his accomplice Peter Denwood, 20, then launched an attack, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Mr Locke suffered a broken nose, cuts and abrasions.

He underwent surgery on his nose, suffered dizzy spells, headaches and post-concussion syndrome and eventually resigned from his post.

McKenna, of Alma Street, and Denwood, of Garden Street, both Padiham, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm. They each received 40 weeks in jail, suspended for 18 months, with 120 hours unpaid work.

They must each pay £250 costs and £750 compensation.

Nigel Booth, prosecuting, said that McKenna was immediately aggressive after he accidentally collided with him by a doorway in Burnley town centre.

Mr Locke thought he was about to be attacked, pushed Denwood aside and told him to leave it.

Denwood then struck him twice and the victim ended up on the ground where he was attacked.

Denwood told police he had had too much to drink and had ended up 'scrapping' on the floor after he was nudged and words were exchanged.

The prosecutor said McKenna said he had been in a scuffle and exchanged punches. That was all he could remember.

Mr Booth told the court Mr Locke had been frightened for his girlfriend during the trouble as he could not defend her. She had intervened to try and protect him and had been hit.

Mr Booth added: “He says his confidence went.

Eventually, he resigned as he was not able to perform his role as a police community support officer. That was a job which he loved.”