POLICE officers executing a drugs search warrant at a Blackburn address were threatened with an ‘extremely vicious’ dog.

Blackburn magistrates heard the dog’s owner, Corey Fricker, threatened to set the dog on the officers and was also aggressive.

As a result, the dog and owner had to be sprayed with pepper spray so the police could get control.

Fricker, 22, of Warrington Street, Blackburn, was convicted in his absence of producing cannabis. He was made subject to a 36-hour attendance centre order.

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, said a man was arrested after being caught selling cannabis in The Mall shopping centre. As a result police went to search his home address which he shared with Fricker.

When officers arrived they found Fricker hiding behind a door.

Mr Harrison said: “He had an extremely aggressive dog with him which he threatened to let loose on the officers.

“Both the defendant and his dog were eventually subdued by the use of pepper spray.”

Mr Harrison said police found a number of cannabis plants, two sets of weighing scales and hundreds of snap bags inside the house.

Paul Huxley, defending, said it was the other man who was actually growing the cannabis.