A SPICE user attending a meeting at probation made a threat to kill another officer who wasn’t present.

Blackburn magistrates heard the officer who heard the threat was so concerned they called in the police.

Connor Raymond Hargreaves, 21, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour. He was sentenced to six weeks in prison suspended for 12 months.

Passing sentence District Judge Margaret McCormack said probation officers were used to dealing with all kinds of people and didn’t go running to the police without good reason.

“The officer who heard this threat was clearly very concerned,” said District Judge McCormack.

“They do not go to work to be threatened. They are trying to help you but if you are spiced up and behaving erratically that is not going to happen.”

Matthew Siddall, prosecuting, said the incident could easily have led to a charge of making a threat to kill. Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client was aware he needed to be careful. “His spice use is not helping his mental health,” said Mr Taylor.