A GARDENER involved in trouble at a house in Colne hit the front door so hard armed with a wooden bat, the weapon snapped in two, a court was told.

Neil Andrew Smith, 46, then threw his body at the door, but left before police attended the commotion on Cambridge Street. He was found on Bond Street, but the bat was discovered in grass near the house.

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He told police: "Yes, it's mine . I brought it with me, but I didn't hit anybody with it."

Burnley magistrates heard how the defendant was questioned by police and told them he hit the door with his hand, but he had the bat in his hand and it must have split because it made contact with the door. Prosecutor Tracy Yates continued: "He said he only intended to retrieve his mobile phone. He took the bat for protection, it was a stupid thing to do and he was sorry it happened." Smith had nine offences on his record.

Smith, of Bond Street, Colne, admitted using threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour and possessing an offensive weapon in public, on September 20. He was bailed until October 28, for a pre- sentence report and must not go within 50 metres of the house on Cambridge Street.

Joanne Heseldon, defending, said the house was that of Smith's girlfriend. He had been head -butted by one of two men there the previous evening.

He had gone the next day to see if he and his girlfriend were still in a relationship, had been allowed in and had gone in the vestibule. The two men appeared. Smith pointed to his forehead and said: "Look what you have done to me," and was told he would get more if he didn't shut up. The men went at him and there was a scuffle on the floor.

The defendant was self-employed, wanted to retrieve his phone with his contacts in from the vestibule and returned with the bat.

The solicitor said: "He simply wanted to use it effectively to prevent them from attacking him again. He was scared. These males had attacked him twice. He hasn't used the bat to threaten anybody."