A MAN who was refused service at a shop at 10.10pm because he was drunk told Blackburn magistrates he had wanted to buy a bottle of wine because he was going to make beef bourguignon.

James Mason said: “I was having it delivered so its not as if I was going to sit outside the shop and drink it.”

Mason, 39, of Ivinson Road, Darwen, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour.

He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and £34 victim surcharge. Scott Parker, prosecuting, said the manager of Iceland on Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn, became aware of a man arguing with staff who had refused to sell him a bottle of wine.

“He was stumbling around and smelled strongly of intoxicants,” said Mr Parker. “He was told he could not be served because he was drunk. He told the manager if he didn’t authorise the sale he would head butt him, knock his head off and kill him.”

When Mason was arrested he told police he had drunk eight cans of beer during the morning. In court he accepted he had sworn at the manager and put forward the culinary reason.