PAUL Leaver sat for two hours in a Lower Darwen pub after being refused another drink and being asked to leave.

Blackburn magistrates heard that when he was again asked to leave he threw a fire extinguisher over the bar, smashed a window with a chair and, after leaving, threw a brick back through the snug window at the Hindle Arms.

Leaver, 30, of Ermine Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to criminal damage.

He was fined £60 and ordered to pay £300 compensation and £55 costs.

Wendy Shackleton, prosecuting, said that after Leaver had hurled the fire extinguisher over the bar a friend tried to calm him down and Leaver said he would stay and wait for the police.

Roger Pickles, defending, said the landlady of the pub said in her statement that Leaver had never caused any trouble before and she felt it was out of character.

Mr Pickles said at the time of the incident Leaver was deeply upset because his father was dying of cancer. "His father eventually died on Christmas Eve and since then my client has recognised the problem he had with drink and he has not had a drink since," said Mr Pickles.

"He has settled down, he lived with his partner and her two children and he just wants to put the matter behind him."