Drunken dad attacked car while with child

A drunken dad out at midnight carrying his bare-footed and 'not properly dressed' young child smashed the car window of a concerned motorist who offered help.

Burnley magistrates heard how roofer Liam Ashman (24) who had been seen stumbling around with the youngster, punched the vehicle repeatedly, after victim Heath Stockburn asked him if he wanted a lift.

He later claimed to police the occupants of the car had been staring at him.

Ashman, of Hodder Street, Burnley, admitted being drunk in charge of a child under seven on Harry Potts Way, in the town and damaging a Vauxhall Zafira to the value of £300, on March 5th.

The defendant was fined £266 and must pay a £30 victim surcharge and £75 compensation.

Prosecutor Miss Parveen Akhtar told the hearing Mr Stockburn was driving on Harry Potts Way, with his mother and friend in his vehicle.

They saw a man they didn’t know, who appeared to be drunk and was stumbling around and carrying a young child. The youngster had bare feet and was not dressed for the weather.

Mr Stockburn asked his mother to call the police.