A POLICE officer assisting in the arrest of a man in Clayton-le-Moors was confronted by another man running from the house accompanied by his dog.

Blackburn magistrates heard that when the officer tried to arrest Richard John O'Brien he kept him at bay with a mop handle before running off.

O'Brien, 33, of Countess Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with a 25 day rehabilitation activity requirement, fined £20 and ordered to pay £120 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, said the officer and a colleague had gone to arrest another man.

The officer was waiting in the back yard when O'Brien ran from the house followed by a dog.

"He shouted at him to stop but after slipping on the cobbles shouted at the officer to get away and prodded the mop handle towards him," said Mr Harrison. "Because of his level of aggression and the presence of the dog the officer left him and went to assist his colleague.

"He knew the defendant and arrested him later that day."

Gareth Price, defending, said police had previously spoken to his client about the dog and whether it was a banned breed," said Mr Price.

"He thought that might be the purpose of the visit and he panicked."