A PARTIALLY disabled man leaned on a car that was obstructing his path outside a Blackburn town centre pub.

Blackburn magistrates heard that when the car owner came out and asked Stephen Ribchester to get off his car, he started to punch the bonnet.

And when he was asked to stop that, he responded by hitting it with his walking stick.

Ribchester, 36, of Queen Victoria Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to damaging a Ford Focus belonging to Peter Leevey, manager of the Postal Order pub in Darwen Street and breach of a community rehabilitation order imposed for offences of assault, affray and being drunk and disorderly.

He was remanded on bail until January 5 for the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

Francis McEntee, prosecuting, said Mr Leevey arrived at work about 3 pm and parked directly outside the pub, waiting for other cars to be moved so he could park securely.

"He looked out of the window to see the defendant leaning on the bonnet of his car and when he went out and asked him to get off, Mr Leevey was met with a tirade of abuse," said Mr McEntee.

"Ribchester then punched the car three times and when he was asked to stop that his response was to histit again with what the owner thought was the top of his walking stick. The result was £300 worth of damage to the car."

Michael Blacklidge, defending, urged the magistrates to adjourn for reports which could look at the problems his client faced.

"Until October 4 1989 he was a hard-working family man living with his partner and two children," said Mr Blacklidge.

"On that day he was cycling to work when he was knocked off his bike by a motorist. He now has this long-term disability and memory loss problems. His condition has deteriorated over the years, fuelled by him drinking far too much, which he accepts."