A FATHER is facing prison because he refuses to pay compensation to the man who molested his daughter.

Michael Hornsey attacked father-in-law Leonard Michael Young when he discovered he had groped his 16-year-old daughter.

Anita Jo Hornsey bravely waived her legal right to anonymity to expose her grandfather.

Her devastated father admitted assaulting the environmental campaigner when he punched and head-butted him after learning about his crime.

He accepted that he deserved to be taken to court and fined. But now he says he will ‘‘happily serve his time’’ after appearing in court for refusing to pay compensation to his daughter’s grandfather.

Despite Young being sentenced to eight months in jail for indecently touching two teenage girls, Hornsey was told he himself could now spend up to seven days behind bars.

That could depend on Young – as officials at Hartlepool Magistrates’ Court are writing to the 61- year-old, well known in the town for his opposition to the dismantling of the socalled ghost ships, to see if he still wants the money from his son-in-law.

Hornsey, 40, from Kipling Road, Hartlepool, said: “There’s no way I am paying this money. I have been told I could get a week in prison if I don’t, but I would happily serve my time.

“I know what I did was wrong. But I believe the majority of people in my situation would have done the same thing.”

The court was told that Hornsey went to Young’s home, in Ventnor Avenue, Hartlepool, after his daughter revealed the truth to her mother in February 2007.

He said he head-butted and punched Young, and then called police himself to report his father-in-law.

For the assault, he was fined £50 and ordered to pay £60 in costs and £50 in compensation.

He has paid £50 already, but stopped his payments to the court because he refuses to pay anything to Young. The case will be back before the court on July 3.

If Young decides he does not want the compensation it could be revoked and Hornsey will only have to pay the costs and fine.