A MAN sleeping on a bench inside the entrance of Royal Blackburn Hospital became aggressive when security staff tried to move him on.

Blackburn magistrates heard when police roused Jake David Boothman he made threats and then swung at an officer.

Boothman, 24, of Victoria Street, Earby, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour and being drunk and disorderly on a different occasion. He was sentenced to eight weeks in prison suspended for nine months.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said the incident in the hospital was at 7.40am on Tuesday.

Security staff were called to the entrance where Boothman, who was covered in blood, was asleep on a bench.

"When they woke him up he started shouting and swearing and made threats towards one member of staff," said Miss Akhtar.

"They tried to be reasonable and asked him to leave but he went back to sleep on the couch and the police were called."

Miss Akhtar said the drunk and disorderly offence was committed in the Texaco petrol station in Accrington on Sunday.

Boothman was taking food off the shelves and eating it. He became abusive when officers arrived.

Alexander Rostron, defending, said his client had a foot injury and had been seen by medical staff earlier on, before falling asleep.

"He has had nothing but prison in recent years and clearly needs some help," said Mr Rostron.

The court was told Boothman was due to be recalled to prison after failing to comply with post sentence supervision following his release from his latest period of Imprisonment.