A MAN who called the police because of problems with local youths ended up assaulting an officer.

Blackburn magistrates heard Paul Cook was not happy when the police advised him not to go out on the street and threaten children.

He ordered them out of his house and slammed the door behind them but then went out and started shouting and swearing at the officers.

Cook, 52, of Wensley Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting PC James Gorrie in the execution of his duty.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 20 days rehabilitation activity requirement, fined £50 and ordered to pay £150 compensation to the officer and £85 costs.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said when police arrived Cook was "quite chirpy" and invited the officers into his home.

"He quickly became aggressive and when the officers advised him not to go out and threaten children he shouted at and threatened the officers," said Mrs Yates.

"When he came out after the officers he ran at them with his fists clenched shouting and swearing. He threw a punch at one of the officers, catching him on the side of the face. The officers had to use pepper spray to gain control."

Mrs Yates said Cook had a conviction in 2017 which was for an assault on a child and resulted in a suspended prison sentence.

Peter King, defending, said his client was a solitary man who had largely kept himself away from trouble.

"There has been a history of him being oined by local youngsters who have made his life unbearable," said Mr King.

"Since the conviction in 2017 the problems continued but he kept his head down and kept out of trouble."

He said police had suggested a CCTV camera outside the house and Cook had installed done.

"He was still the target of knock and run, banging on the windows and that kind of behaviour," said Mr King.

"On the morning of this incident he called police on the 101 number and told them children had climbed up and dislodged the CCTV camera.

"The officers who attended gave him some advice which he felt was very negative and all his frustrations boiled over," said Mr King.

"He knows he should just have allowed the officers to leave."