A FORMER councillor flooded the bar of a Colne hotel with Guinness in a midnight break-in, a court was told.

Pensioner Ian Jeffrey had been staying at the Commercial Hotel when the manager found he had forced his way into the bar after closing time.

Both the Guinness and Strongbow cider pumps were flowing and the area was flooded.

The court was told that after police arrived, Jeffrey, 69, was aggressive, abusive and threatening, tried to hit an officer with his walking stick, struggled violently as he was being hand-cuffed and kicked out at another officer.

Jeffrey, a former police mechanic and currently of no fixed address, admitted burglary, police obstruction and assaulting PC Mark Whittaker, on March 9.

The defendant, who had been released from hospital just before he attended court, must pay £385 in fines, compensation and a victim surcharge.

Hilary Rees, prosecuting, said the bar had been closed at about midnight, the manager left and when he returned he heard the alarm.

He noticed the door to the bar was open, found the bolt had been forced and saw Jeffrey standing in the flood.

John Nuttall, defending, said Jeffrey was not in good health, did not have settled accommodation and had been living in guest houses and anywhere he could lay his head.

He had been staying at the Commercial, had gone into the public house after paying his £20 lodgings and had been drinking.

He had little recollection of what happened after.

He had believed the bar was still open.

Jeffrey did not take anything, but the beer taps came on.

During the course of his interview, he made full apologies to everyone concerned.