A man racially abused a police officer who was in the process of arresting him believed his ethnicity meant he could use discriminatory language.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Zaker Javed told another officer he could use racist language "because he is brown" during the incident on February 8 in Blackburn.

Javed, 30, of Blackburn Road, Accrington, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated threatening behaviour during his hearing.

He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £50 compensation to the officer, £85 costs and £22 victim surcharge.

Shannon Stewart, prosecuting, said police had responded to reports of a man shouting and making threats to members of the public.

"He continued making threats and was placed in handcuffs by Police Sergeant Mohammed Bhai," said Miss Shannon.

"He used a racist term towards the officer and then told another he could say that because he was brown."

Colleen Dickinson-Jones, mitigating, said her client said he did drink alcohol but not usually to the extent he had done on the day of the incident..

"He was more drunk than he normally would be," said Mrs Dickinson-Jones.

"He says it is out of character for him to say what he said and he is very apologetic to the officer. He wants me to assure you this is not going to happen again."