A RETIRED policeman and leading charity worker ended up in court accused of assault after rowing with a binman who refused to collect his rubbish.

Stuart Joseph, a former detective in Blackburn and Burnley, called David Boothman a "stupid, fat, ignorant little man" when he failed to take the bins from his house in Woodcrest, Wilpshire.

Blackburn magistrates were told that he had been put on a list of people who required assistance with their rubbish because he was left disabled following a road accident.

But he rowed with the Ribble Valley Council binman when Mr Boothman refused to empty his bins unless he took them to the end of his drive himself.

Joseph, 61, of Woodcrest, Wilpshire, was bound over in £200 to keep the peace for six months after admitting a breach of the peace.

A charge of assaulting Mr Boothman was not proceeded with.

Joseph served with Lancashire Constabulary for 22 years before working as a charity fundraiser Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Mr Boothman saw Joseph on his drive and there were no bins.

"Joseph asked if they would be returning to empty his bins and Mr Boothman told him not unless heput them out.

She said that Joseph said he had reached an agreement with the depot.

Mr Boothman turned to walk away and felt a blow to his earl, said Miss Allan.

Peter Turner, defending, said his client always denied assaulting the collector.

Joseph had been told he had been put on the assisted list where the binmen would collect his wheelie bins.

"They didn't do that on February 19, the week before this incident," said Mr Turner.

"On the 26th assurances had been given, but Mr Boothman and his colleagues refused to take the rubbish.

"My client said Mr Boothman was 'the most uncooperative man' but always denied assault."