A BOUNCER seen on CCTV chasing nightclubbers down the street with an extending metal cosh has walked free from court -- but paid the price with his job.

Burnley Crown Court had heard how Fiaz Mohammed, 25, then working on the doors at Lar de Dars in Accrington, had claimed the cosh had been handed to him by a customer at the club before he set off towards the youths, who had been thrown out of the premises.

Mohammed was found guilty of having an offensive weapon and was fined £250. Sentencing him, Judge David Pirie said he had been convicted on the "plainest of evidence."

The judge said he had no doubt being a doorman was a difficult job and the video showed the sort of things he had to put up with - but he was not allowed to carry weapons and he knew it.

He added the defendant should take the conviction and fine as a warning - as if he was again found carrying an offensive weapon, he had no doubt Mohammed would go to jail.

The defendant, of Clement Street, Accrington, had denied the allegation during a one-day trial.

Stuart Duke, prosecuting, said five days after the offence, the defendant walked into Accrington police station, admitted that he had been the man on the video and that he had had the telescopic cosh.

The CCTV recording showed that Mohammed was clearly proficient in the use of the cosh and was able to produce it from his pocket and extend it. He was also able to collapse the baton with one hand without even looking at it.

Mohammed had 12 previous convictions. The defendant told the jury there had been a scuffle in the club and as he was restraining one youth, something fell to the floor on his foot.

Before he got the nightclubber outside, a customer handed something to him and he succeeded in closing the doors on the three trouble-makers and putting them out.

Mohammed had alleged he put the "stick," in his trouser pocket and intended to give it to the management at the first opportunity.

He said as he was chasing the three men down the alleyway, he pulled out the cosh to stop it falling from his pocket and it extended of its own accord.

Martin Hackett, defending, said Mohammed was now unemployed.

His licence had been suspended and he would not properly be able to work as a doorman in the Accrington area.