A DRUNKEN man who had been at a wake kicked off with patrons of a Conservative club.

Blackburn magistrates watched CCTV footage which showed Benjamin Myers chasing one man around the snooker table and throwing punches at others.

One victim had a tooth knocked out after Myers caught him with a punch.

Myers, 39, of Kirkstall Drive, Barnoldswick, pleaded guilty to assaulting Paul Andrews causing him actual bodily harm.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with a four months Alcohol Abstinence Order.

He was ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to Mr Andrews, £200 costs and £95 victim surcharge.

He was also excluded from Barnoldswick Conservative Club for 12 months.

Tess Kenyon, prosecuting, said one of the patrons who had clearly been assaulted did not wish to provide a statement.

Mr Andrews said he had gone into the club for a drink after finishing work. Around 10 pm Myers, who had been arguing with numerous people, "kicked off."

He chased on man around the snooker table, pushed another over and then approached Mr Andrews.

He swung a punch, which Mr Andrews was able to duck under but then landed another blow to his jaw. Mr Andrews then took the defendant to the floor.

When Myers was interviewed he accepted he had been drunk but also believed he had been "spiked."

Kamran Yousaf, in mitigation, said his client accepted his role in the incident but felt there had been an element of goading by other people in the club.

"They were blaming him for a burglary committed 20 years ago," said Mr Yousaf.

"He denied any involvement in that and was sticking up for himself."

He said Myers had not touched a drop of alcohol since the incident in October.