A MAN was found by police in the middle of the road shouting abuse back towards a pub.

Blackburn magistrates heard officers driving down Derby Road in Longridge were confronted by a man in the middle of the road shouting abuse at the Forrest Arms.

Magistrates heard Aaron O'Connell became abusive towards the officers and struggled, despite other people from the pub trying to calm him down.

And the court was told it later transpired he had thrown a stool, which hit the pub landlady and damaged the door as he was leaving.

O'Connell, 21, of Wheatley Drive, Longridge, pleaded guilty to assaulting Christina Odix, damaging a door belonging to her and being drunk and disorderly.

He was fined £184 with £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge and ordered to pay a total of £200 compensation.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said police came across O'Connell in the middle of the road at 12.20am. When they approached he started bouncing on his heels and then smashed his elbow back against a house window.

"The officers deployed a Parva spray so they could handcuff him," said Mrs Yates. "The landlady told them he had thrown a stool across the pub which hit her on the leg and damaged the door as he left."

Graeme Parkinson, defending, said there had been no intention to hurt the landlady.

"He pushed the stool out of his way as he was leaving the pub and it caught her on the leg," said Mr Parkinson. "He had an argument with some friend and he was angry and frustrated.

"He accepts he kicked the front door but this is not the kind of conduct he usually displays."