A MAN living at an alcohol rehab hostel aimed a karate kick at a female member of staff and then headbutted her.

Blackburn magistrates heard Ryan John Healey missed with the flying kick but butted the victim on the side of the head after he fell off the wagon.

And the court was told that prior to the attack he had shown her a knife tucked in his belt.

Healey, 28, of Blackburn Road, Oswaldtwistle, pleaded guilty to assaulting Sandra Plews.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 10 rehabilitation activity days, fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs and £50 compensation.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said police received a call from the hostel for alcohol dependent people saying Healey was armed with a knife.

By the time the police arrived Miss Plews had persuaded him to put the knife down and he was standing bare-chested on the front doorstep.

"It appears he got very drunk and started causing problems," said Miss Akhtar.

Damien Pickup, defending, said Healey had been released from prison in November but before then had written to the hostel of his own volition asking if he could come and stay with them.

"He wants to get off alcohol and up until this incident had not had a drink for 19 months," said Mr Pickup.

"He has been doing all the right things and engaging with the various agencies."

Mr Pickup said on Friday Healey had started to feel very down following the breakdown of a relationship.

He had spoken to his offender manager and said he feared he was going to drink alcohol.

"They tried to talk him out of it but he relapsed," said Mr Pickup.

"He doesn't remember the offence but says he normally gets on very well with Sandra and he was disgusted by what he had done.

"He is appalled that this has happened and he is very apologetic."