A shop worker was left ‘fearing for his life’ after a beggar threatened to stab him with a needle.

Leon Horsfall, 40, was told to pay his victim compensation after leaving him ‘scared for his life’.

Graham Tindall, prosecuting at Blackburn Magistrates Court said that Horsfall was known for begging was sat outside Home Bargains on Colne Road, Burnley, on February 24.

He was approached by a staff member from the shop, Mr Hussain, who asked him to move on.

Mr Hussain’s request sparked a response from Horsfall, who said: “I’m gonna stab you with a needle. I’ll stab you and be gone before they get here.”

Mr Hussain said that he ‘feared for his life’ and was ‘very scared’.

It was made clear that Horsfall only used words and that no needle was produced.

Defending, Gareth Price said that Horsfall had fallen on bad times at the end of last year, losing his home.

Struggling with homelessness, Horsfall started drinking and fell into further problems before this offence.

Horsfall who is of no fixed abode, accepted he was sat outside the shop, accepts he was asked to move on and accepts that he said what he did to Mr Hussain.

Mr Price also stated that Horsfall did not produce a needle, nor did he make any gesture which may have made Mr Hussain believe he was reaching for a needle.

The magistrates ordered Horsfall, who pleaded guilty to intentional harassment, to pay Mr Hussain compensation of £100.

He was also in court for a failure to surrender. For this the magistrates handed him a one day detention in lieu of a £50 fine.