A 45-year-old man who had been drinking heavily on the day of his sister's funeral punched a taxi driver because he wouldn't wait for him outside a chip shop.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Brian Warren was in a deeply emotional state when he assaulted the driver and then damaged his car.

Warren, of Wensley Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assault and criminal damage.

He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Neil White, prosecuting, said the taxi driver, Ghulam Razool, had collected Warren and three other people from the Intack pub at about 5.45pm.

He was asked to wait outside a chip shop and after 15 minutes asked the others to ask Warren to be quick because he wanted to finish his shift.

"Warren came out of the shop and was abusive and aggressive," said Mr White.

"He punched the driver through the open window and then kicked off a wing mirror and kicked the car."

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said that in the space of three months Warren had lost a brother and his sister to whom he was particularly close.

"It was the day of her funeral in London and he was upset that he could not afford to go," said Mr Church-Taylor.

"The incident with the taxi driver was an outpouring of emotion and grief."