A FORMER councillor and college lecturer had to be wrestled to the floor by security staff when he tried to enter Blackburn College in breach of an order banning him from all campus buildings.

Blackburn magistrates heard Noel William O’Brien, a former Haslingden councillor, claimed he was attending a pre-arranged appointment and became abusive.

And when a police community support officer arrived and asked him to calm down he said she wasn’t a 'proper copper' and couldn’t tell him what to do.

O’Brien, 59, of Mercer Crescent, Haslingden, pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour.

He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £85 costs.

When the charge was put to him O’Brien said: “It's unfortunate that under Section 5 of the Public Order Act you can’t speak your mind.

"That is what I did on this day and it is what I will always do.”

Don Green, prosecuting, said O’Brien used to work at Blackburn College but due to a previous incident he had been barred from entering any of the college buildings.

He was repeatedly asked to moderate his language and behaviour, which was witnessed by staff and pupils and was eventually arrested by a police officer for a breach of the peace.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client had never received any notification of a ban from the college buildings.

Two weeks before the incident he had received information about some courses that interested him and had responded and made an appointment.

“He received a letter inviting him to the college, where he worked for over eight years, and on the day of this incident had a legitimate appointment,” said Mr Taylor.

“CCTV shows him entering the premises calm and well dressed and he spoke to two former colleagues who described him as perfectly calm.

"It was only when he was approached by three over zealous security guards that things went wrong.

“He says he was forced to the ground for not complying with their request to leave.

"He was irate at this point and accepts his language was not appropriate.”