A TEENAGER who beat up a schoolboy kicked him repeatedly around the head and body, a court was told.

Burnley Magistrates heard Andrew Lord, 18, struck after he heard rumours the victim had been claiming he had beaten him in a fight.

He attacked the boy at a garage leaving him with bumps, bruises and a black eye.

Lord, of Sedburgh Street, Burnley, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, on November 8. He was given 100 hours community punishment and told to pay £100 compensation. The bench made no order for costs.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said the 15-year-old victim was at a garage on Casterton Avenue, Burnley, when he saw three males on the other side of the road.

Lord swung towards him and struck him in the face. The defendant was shouting: "What have you been saying?"

Lord then followed the schoolboy, punching and kicking him until a passer-by got out of a car and told him to stop the attack.

The boy had been so frightened by the assault he had rung his father from the garage. The father arrived to pick him up.

Police were contacted and the 15-year-old was taken to hospital. Lord was arrested and interviewed.

Mark Williams, defending, said Lord did not strike the first blow. But when the victim lashed out to protect himself, the defendant then pushed him. He accepted he did not need to follow the 15-year-old to continue the assault.

Lord, who met the victim purely by chance, approached the 15-year-old to ask him about rumours going round. The complainant was saying he had beaten up Lord and sorted him out.