A PASSER-by who shouted abuse at a police officer issuing a fixed penalty to a young woman found himself on the wrong side of the law.

Blackburn magistrates heard Stuart Sedgwick refused to leave as instructed by the officer.

In the course of being arrested he was hit three times with a baton, sprayed with CS gas and had his fingers stood on.

And when he eventually appeared in court the incident cost him £225 in fines and costs and he was made subject to a conditional discharge.

"He wishes he hadn't bothered and had just walked on by," said Mr Jonathan Taylor, defending.

Sedgwick, 41, of Shorrock Lane, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to resisting a police officer and possession of cannabis and amphetamine.

Scott Ainge, prosecuting, said the officer was in the process of issuing a fixed penalty notice to a female who had been shoplifting at Tesco, Bank Top.

"The defendant came along and for some reason started to involve himself," said Mr Ainge.

"He was drunk and became abusive to the officer and then resisted when the officer went to arrest him."