A DRUNKEN joiner dangled a baby over the edge of a bridge 25ft above a river, a court heard.

Burnley magistrates were told it was similar to the infamous incident when pop star Michael Jackson sparked worldwide controversy by holding his child over a hotel balcony.

Gavin Murphy, 22, was brought before the court after police parked nearby saw him holding the 14-month-old baby girl over a bridge in Padiham, 25ft above a fast-flowing river.

The defendant held the tot facing away from him and then lowered her until officers could no longer see her head.

The court was told the infant's mother and uncle, who were with Murphy, did not want him to be arrested, but officers took him into custody.

Murphy, of Rycliffe Street, Padiham, admitted being drunk in charge of a child, an offence which can carry a month in jail.

However Murphy, who admitted to the justices he had been stupid, kept his freedom He was fined £200, with £50 costs and was told to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

Murphy was told by the bench that his conduct had been "highly dangerous."

The magistrates also told the defendant, who had clocked up his third drink-related offence, they thought he should look very seriously at his lifestyle and think about the consequences of the alcohol he was drinking.

The chairman said Murphy's behaviour had been "reckless and impulsive". He told Murphy: "You have been a very lucky lad indeed. It could have had serious consequences."

David Leach, defending, told the court Murphy committed the offence as a joke.

But he said his client now realised his mistake, was genuinely remorseful and apologised to the court.

He accepted he held the baby over the bridge for three to four seconds and that he had put the child at risk.

Mr Leach said: "It was not done with any malice and was done as part of messing and joking around."

Murphy had a "lapse in concentration" when he was trying to entertain the baby, Mr Leach said.

Mr Leach said the child's family wanted police to give Murphy "a good telling off only" .