THOMAS Winters was a loser in love and a lottery loser too after damaging a terminal belonging to Camelot, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard the lottery organiser was claiming £3,500 compensation for damage caused to the terminal.

And shopkeeper Simon Dixon was claiming a further £8,300 for damage to his till and a computer caused when Winters went berserk following a row with his former partner.

Winters, 35, of Branch Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to criminal damage.

He also pleaded guilty to a charge of using threatening behaviour on a separate occasion in April.

The case was adjourned for the preparation of pre-sentence reports after the chairman said the magistrates were "seriously considering custody" for the defendant.

Winters was remanded on bail until June 2.

John Wood, prosecuting, said Winters entered the off-licence in Albert Place, Blackburn, at 9pm on October 12 and there was a dispute.

He returned at 10pm, obviously the worse for drink, and after starting an argument pushed the till and computer off the counter and knocked over the lottery terminal.

He said the threatening behaviour involved a neighbour, Jonathan Rhodes, who had made a complaint about Winters' son damaging a fence.