A MAN whose company had a turnover of £2.1million last year has appeared in court charged with child neglect.

Blackburn magistrates heard Ben Blackburn had built the business despite an addiction to ketamine which started while he was at university.

The court heard Blackburn had taken the drug before taking the child to feed the ducks in Thompson Park.

Blackburn, 36, of Burnley Road, Briercliffe, pleaded guilty to child neglect. He was made subject to a community order for two years with a six months Drug Rehabilitation Requirement and 100 hours unpaid work. He was ordered to pay £85 costs and £95 victim surcharge.

Rafih Khan, prosecuting, said police were contacted by a taxi driver who had collected Blackburn and the child.

The taxi driver said he was directed to stop at a cash machine while Blackburn got some money. He was then told to drive to Dixie Chicken in Brierfield and Blackburn got out of the car leaving the girl behind.

He was gone for no more than five minutes and when he returned they continued to the park.

"The driver looked in the back and saw the defendant was behaving strangely," said Mr Khan.

"He was holding his head in both hands saying he didn't know where he was. His nose was running with a clear liquid and the driver could see it wasn't a normal medical condition."

The driver locked the doors and called the police but Blackburn wound down his window and climbed out.

"He ran off but then returned and tried to pull the child out of the car even though she was strapped in," said Mr Khan. "The child was distressed."

Police arrived and arrested Blackburn and drug tests revealed the presence of ketamine and its derivative.

Zabair Afzal, defending, said his client had intended to take the ketamine in the evening but accepted using it before taking the child in the taxi.

"He concedes it was extremely poor decision making on his part," said Mr Afzal said his client's addiction to ketamine started when he was at university but despite that he had been able to build a successful business which employs 22 people in the manufacture of sports supplements and health care products.

"He has paid for a rehab course in Thailand and he is no longer reliant on drugs," said Mr Afzal.

"He understands the seriousness of this incident and is extremely remorseful."