A 20-YEAR-OLD Darwen man was the last to join in a series of late night arguments but the first to be arrested.

Blackburn magistrates heard that police called to an incident where a window had been smashed were told to look for a bare-chested man who had cut his hand.

And they found Lee Martin Stones who fitted the description walking along Bolton Road. Stones, of Cemetery Road, pleaded guilty to criminal damage. He was fined £50, with £50 compensation and £25 costs.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said a Mr David Murray had returned home from the pub only to find himself locked out by his girlfriend. He was stood on the doorstep and she was at the bedroom window and he was trying to persuade her to let him in. A man approached from further up the road and he said: "I know you, you hit my brother."

"He was concerned the other man wanted to fight with him but fortunately, at that moment, his girlfriend opened the door," said Mr Snape. "He then saw a bare-chested man begin banging on the door and eventually the window smashed."

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said there had been a great deal of confusion and a number of incidents merged into one. "Mr Murray was arguing with his girlfriend, my client's brother got embroiled and then he got involved himself, fearing his brother was in some kind of trouble," said Mr Church-Taylor.