A DRUNKEN man racially abused a health centre staff member and a patient.

Blackburn magistrates heard when police arrived Anthony John Lomax turned his attentions to an Asian officer and racially abused him as well.

Lomax, 34, of Addison Street, Blackburn, admitted to three charges of racially aggravated threatening behaviour. He was given a 12 month community order with 20 days of rehabilitation activities and 120 hours unpaid work. He must also pay £50 compensation each to his victims.

Beth Pilling, prosecuting, said Misbah Nawaz was working in the Barbara Castle Way health centre and Sabreen Fayyaz, who was also a friend, came in to collect a prescription.

Lomax, clearly drunk, came in and demanded to know what they were looking at. He was racially abusive and said all they did was “kill people and bomb this country.”

“Both these young women were really scared,” said Miss Pilling.

Gareth Price, defending, said Lomax and his girlfriend had been drinking all day and she was feeling unwell.

Mr Price added: “He went in to get some help for her and reacted to the two women looking at him. When I went through the things he said with him he was thoroughly ashamed."