AN intoxicated man stripped down to his boxer shorts and “ran amok” threatening families and children attending a Second World War re-enactment in Rawtenstall.

Burnley Crown Court heard police received eight separate phone calls about Stephen Tobin’s behaviour at the East Lancashire Railway Bank Holiday event, including one from his own father.

Peter Barr, prosecuting, said the incident started in Rawtenstall town centre at around 2pm on May 30 this year and ended with drunken Tobin being arrested by police.

Officers found him pretending to direct traffic in Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, in a semi-naked state.

Mr Barr said: “His father called the police because his son had been drinking and was being violent and threatening violence.

“It was one of seven or eight phone calls to the police with regard to the defendant and what he had been doing.

“He was going around pushing people and at one stage was directing traffic wearing just boxer shorts and socks.

“They were attending a World War Two re-enactment at East Lancashire Railway with adults and young children present.

“He took exception to people wearing Second World War uniforms and was abusive and shouting.

“He just seemed extremely belligerent and, as it were, ready for a fight.”

Defence barrister Rachel Cooper said the incident happened after Tobin had “relapsed” after having treatment for alcohol addiction.

Ms Cooper said: “Mr Tobin began his drinking and very quickly became a problem drinker.

“He went into rehabilitation in early 2016 and relapsed and then this offence occurred. He makes no excuse for this offence and doesn’t stress that it is acceptable.

“It was a combination of being arrested and remanded for this, and then being told by a doctor that he had damaged his liver to such an extent that he potentially had irreversible liver damage due to his drinking.”

Tobin, 32, of Kingsway, Middleton, pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to seven months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.

Judge Beverley Lunt said: “Your behaviour was bizarre and I have to say rather frightening for anybody watching you running amok on this day.

“You did not for this offence of affray actually harm anybody but there were a lot of people out, families out, children out, and what are you doing was running amok like this.”