A MAN threatened a shop assistant with a baseball bat after helping himself to a bottle of whisky, a court was told.

Burnley magistrates heard Gareth Fishwick, 25, struck the counter with the weapon and was later disarmed by the owner.

Fishwick, of Dall Street, Burnley, admitted making off without payment, affray and possessing an offensive weapon. He was given 150 hours community punishment.

Margaret Duckworth, prosecuting, told the court the defendant asked for a bottle of whisky, said he had no money and became aggressive. He threatened the shop worker, took the alcohol and left the shop with it.

Fishwick later returned armed with the bat but the owner arrived, took it off him and he made off. When the defendant was interviewed he told police he would have paid for the whisky later. He claimed he had been insulted by the worker and acted in retaliation.

Richard Taylor, defending, said Fishwick was lightly convicted. The offences were last November and there had been no problems since.