POLICE found three drunken men playing football in the middle of Blackburn Road outside the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors, in the early hours of the morning, Hyndburn magistrates were told.

Engineer Steven Peter Townsend, 30, of Harwood Road, Rishton, was extremely abusive towards officers, said Christiana Buchanan, prosecuting.

And when one of his friends was arrested, Townsend took exception and continued to use foul and profane language despite being warned.

Townsend, who had been to a sportsmen's dinner at the hotel, admitted being drunk and disorderly on August 15 and was fined £75 with £35 costs.

Peter King, defending, said Townsend accepted he had shouted something insulting at police but did not remember the incident in quite the way outlined in court.

At the end of the dinner, taxis were in short supply and the three friends decided they would walk back to Rishton.

Mr King said Townsend became abusive when one of his friends was arrested because he was wearing the same colour of shirt as the suspect in an assault.

He said Townsend had been with his friend all through the evening but police took no notice when he assured them his friend had not been involved in the assault.

He added that his client apologised to the court.

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