An Afghan asylum seeker told probation officers and monitoring staff he was Isis and Taliban and they had better watch out.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard that after his arrest, Farhad Sarvary spat in the face of a custody detention officer.

In his mitigation, the court was told his words were a misunderstanding and had been saying life under the Taliban was easier than life in the UK.

Sarvary, 26, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour and assaulting an emergency worker.

He was jailed for 18 weeks by District Judge Alexandra Preston, who told the court all of the victims were performing their public duties at the time.

“You lost your temper and were abusive and violent,” she said.

“The people you abused did not deserve to be treated in this way. Your history of violence and assaulting emergency workers makes this worse.”

Susheela Regala, prosecuting, said at the time of the offence Sarvary was resident at Hogarth House bail hostel in Blackburn.

He was told he was having a second electronic tag fitted and he became irate.

“He was shouting and swearing at the probation hostel staff in an area which also allowed access to the public.

“He swore and told staff he was Isis and he was Taliban,” said Miss Regalia.

Leigh Morgan, mitigating, said her client accepted his behaviour had been disorderly.

“His understanding of English is very limited and he got into an argument with the officer because he was told a second tag was being fitted,” said Miss Morgan.

“One tag is in relation to his asylum status and the other in relation to a curfew.”

Miss Morgan said her client accepted he had used the word Taliban.

“He was very much saying that life under the Taliban was easier than life in this country,” said Miss Morgan.

“He has now signed voluntary papers to be returned to Afghanistan when he is released from prison.”