A MAN who was out with his girlfriend indecently assault a Blackburn pub manageress.

Blackburn magistrates heard Ryan Leech slapped the woman's backside as she was escorting him from the pub.

And as he tried to persuade her to let him back in he grabbed at her breasts.

Leech, 29, of Bridgefield Close, Rishton, pleaded guilty to indecent assault.

He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

A condition of his bail is that he does not enter any on-licenced premises in the United Kingdom.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the bar manageress asked Leech to leave because he was drunk.

"She was at her place of work when she was sexually assaulted and she said the incident had scared her," said Miss Allan.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client was a binge drinker who once he started didn't know when to stop.

On the day of the incident he had taken his girlfriend out to cheer her up and when they went for a meal she ordered a bottle of wine.

"He initially abstained but then decided one drink wouldn't do any harm," said Mr Taylor.

"One drink led to another, they went to a bar and ordered shots and that is the last thing he remembers."

He said Leech was deeply ashamed of what he had done.

"Alcoholism is a constant battle for him but he is continuing to fight," said Mr Taylor.