A BLACKBURN man convicted of witness intimidation has been jailed for four months after a judge said the operation of justice had to be protected.

Mohammed Bux threatened a teenager who was a witness in the case when he was accused of selling alcohol to an under age person.

Preston Crown court was told that Bux pointed at the teenager and said: "Look who it is, it's the grasser."

He also said the teenager would be "lifted" outside court and find himself in the back of a van.

Bux of Buncer Lane, had been committed to Preston Crown court for sentence after being found guilty following a trial at Blackburn Magistrates court of intimidation of a witness.

Jailing him Judge Andrew Gilbart QC said: "It is essential that justice is not interfered with."

He added: "This must be met by a custodial sentence to protect the way justice operates."

Stuart Martin, prosecuting, said the incident happened on September 7 last year when the teenager got off a bus near a shop on Preston Old Road, Feniscowles.

Mr Martin said the youth considered retracting his statement but did not and contacted police.

Regarding the liquor offence, Bux was convicted after trial and fined #350.

Fraser Livesey, defending, said Bux still denied the offence. No violence had been offered and the incident lasted 60 seconds .

It did not have the desired effect and the youth gave evidence in the Trading Standards matter.

Last year Bux was banned from working in the former Spar shop at Preston Old Road, Feniscowles, which is owned by his father, after he began inducing young girls with cigarettes and alcohol.

Bux, who was placed on the sex offenders register in 2003 after being sentenced to 12 months in prison for indecent assault, was made subject of an interim Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

This banned him from associating with people under 18 or acting in a way that may cause fear of sexual harm.