A MAN had to be tasered after arming himself with a knife when police entered his home.

Blackburn magistrates heard Stephen Coyle was zapped three times before officers could arrest and detain him.

Coyle, 58, of Hud Rake, Haslingden, pleaded guilty to affray. He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with a 30 day rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to pay £85 costs and £90 victim surcharge.

Malcolm Isherwood, prosecuting, said the defendant's niece and her husband had been to the defendant's address to talk to him about a matter that was a concern to them.

"There was an altercation and as a result of that the couple called the police," said Mr Isherwood.

He said when police arrived at the address they pushed the door open and shouted in. They could see him standing in the kitchen doorway, with his fists clenched by his side.

"The officer explained why they were there and the defendant opened a kitchen drawer and removed a large kitchen knife," said Mr Isherwood. "He raised the knife in an aggressive and threatening manner."

When he refused to put the knife down the first officer discharged his taser.

"It didn't have any effect and his colleague had discharge her weapon twice before the defendant fell to the floor," said Mr Isherwood.

Ian Huggan, defending, said after being arrested Coyle was charged with affray and two assaults on his niece and her partner. He was remanded in custody for two months before the assault charges were dismissed and he pleaded guilty to the affray.

Mr Huggan said body-cam footage showed Coyle move towards the officers and he was tasered.

"Some fear and distress would have been caused but they had their tasers, they used them and he was put to the ground," said Mr Huggan.

He said his client had no convictions since 1983 and had already served the equivalent of a 13-week sentence.