A DOORMAN at a Blackburn pub allegedly dragged a female customer outside and told her she was banned after she rejected his amorous advances.

Andrew Loughnane, 34, of Collins Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting Rosie Fielding and Carl Fisher. He was ordered to do 120 hours' community punishment and pay a total of £149 compensation to Mr Fisher, £75 to Miss Fielding and £50 costs.

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, said the incident started as Miss Fielding entered Marley's in Church Street. She claimed that as she passed him Loughnane grabbed her by the arm and kissed her on the cheek. He also asked if she was going to have a drink with him and she said no.

While she was inside speaking to friends Loughnane came up and pushed between two of her male friends and forcibly took her by the arm and said: "Come on, talk to me outside."

"She said no but he took tight hold of her and pulled her outside," said Mr Harrison. "She felt intimidated, humiliated and upset."

Miss Fielding rang one of her friends who was still inside the bar and they arranged to meet in the Grove, next door.

Loughnane suddenly appeared in that bar and again grabbed her by the arm before telling door staff in there to ban her.

Mr Fisher, who was one of the doormen, refused to comply and without warning Loughnane grabbed him by the throat and slapped him across the face.

Loughnane left but returned and offered to shake hands with Mr Fisher but there was a further incident. Ten minutes later he came back again and forced his way into the Grove. Mr Fisher told him he was not welcome and Loughnane took him in a headlock.

"This was a totally unprovoked attack on a woman by someone who was meant to be there to keep order," said Mr Harrison. "He was abusing his position and when another man tried to protect a customer he was attacked."

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said his client denied any improper behaviour towards Miss Fielding as she entered the bar. He claimed he had gone in to deal with a disturbance and found a package containing what he thought were drugs on the floor near Miss Fielding. When he confronted her Miss Fielding became abusive.

"He accepts he was over zealous in removing her from the pub," said Mr Church-Taylor. "When he saw her entering a nearby bar he went and asked the door staff to support his actions."

Mr Church-Taylor said his client expected Carl Fisher to comply with the Bar-U agreement between town centre pubs.

"Mr Fisher effectively said it had nothing to do with my client," said Mr Church-Taylor. "There was a dispute between the two men but they have since resolved their differences."

Mr Church-Taylor said that as a result of the incident Loughnane had lost his doorman's badge and had not worked since.