A 29-YEAR-OLD man has been sent to prison after he led police trying to arrest him for damaging property ‘on a merry dance’.

James McInerney, of Angela Street, Blackburn, outstayed his welcome at his mother’s home and started ‘charging around’ when she asked home to leave.

Blackburn magistrates heard how when police arrived, the defendant, who had been drinking, told them he had a knife and he threatened to harm himself.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said: “He was being very abusive towards the police. They eventually entered with Tasers and Parva spray. He was Parva sprayed and detained.”

District Judge Richard Clews heard how during the commotion a set of drawers belonging to McInerney’s mother were damaged.

The defendant denied having caused the £75 worth of damage, but did not turn up to court for his trial. He was found guilty in his absense.

The court was told how damaging the drawers put McInerney in breach of a suspended sentence, which was given to him after he caused £4,500 worth of damage to an NHS heart machine while he was in hospital.

In total, he was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison. The judge also made McInereney subject a restraining order, banning him from going within 100 metres of his mother’s house.

Judge Clews told the defendant: “You damaged a set of drawers at your mother’s house.

“The offence in itself is not the most serious, but there are serious features.

“You led the police on a merry dance before you allowed them to arrest you. That offence by itself probably would not have crossed the custody threshold, but you were subject to a suspended sentence.”