A MAN encouraged police to “de-arrest” his friend even though they had been squaring up to each other during a drunken episode in Blackburn town centre on a busy Saturday afternoon.

The incident proved costly for David Lee Tucker, who told the court he had an annual salary of £37,000.

Tucker, 50, of Birch Hall Avenue, Darwen, pleaded guilty before Blackburn magistrates to being drunk and disorderly in Astley Gate. He was fined £334 with £85 costs and £34 victim surcharge. The court heard the offence put Tucker in breach of a suspended sentence imposed for a dissimilar matter but the magistrates decided it would be unjust to activate the order.

Joseph Broadsmith, prosecuting, said police responded to reports of two men arguing in Blackburn town centre at 4.10pm on a Saturday. They saw Tucker and the other man near Debenhams squaring up.

“There were beer cans strewn over the floor and both men appeared to be drunk,” said Mr Broadsmith.

“The other man was arrested for being drunk and disorderly and the defendant then got involved. He suggested the other man had done nothing wrong and should be de-arrested. When the officer said that wasn’t going to happen he became abusive.”

Tucker apologised to the court.