AN ex-convict who butted a police officer and left a trail of damage on a drunken night out, escaped jail.

Burnley magistrates heard Kenneth Philip Kelsall, 36, demolished a door frame of a Waterfoot taxi office, and abused one of the workers who ran away and hid in an alleyway.

Kelsall, who has 56 previous convictions, later told police he had had 15 WKDs and five tequilas and was too drunk to remember what happened.

Kelsall, of Crabtree Avenue, Waterfoot, had admitted driving while disqualified, not having insurance, assaulting a police officer, destroying or damaging property, possessing canabis and racially aggrevated threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

He was given an 18 months community rehabilitation order, with £250 compensation, banned from driving for 12 months .

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said Kelsall, had told the officer that when he got his shotgun, he would be dead.

Sajjad Karlam, defending, said Kelsall had no excuses for his behaviour.