A 19-YEAR-old Bacup man was ordered to pay £350 at Burnley Crown Court after pleading guilty to affray.

Darren Mounsey, of Regent Street, admitted the offence committed on February 15, in Bank Street, but pleaded not guilty to having a knife.

Tony Cross, prosecuting, said Steven Garner and his friend, Nathan McBride, were walking along Bank Street when they heard Mounsey shout a homophobic comment.

The pair walked away but said they heard a further shout asking if they were looking for trouble and Mr Garner saw something in Mounsey's hand which looked like a knife.

His friend, Mr McBride, did not see a knife.

Mr Garner said he had been extremely scared and backed away because he thought he was going to get stabbed.

He claimed the defendant lunged towards his right cheek twice but he managed to dodge him and run away.

Judge Raymond Bennett said: "I am prepared to accept that what you had in your hand looked like a knife but wasn't but you frightened the living daylights out of two people who were going through town minding their own business.

"As with many young men, the trouble with you was that you drank too much. You will have to think before you drink."

Mounsey, who denied using homophobic language, was fined £250 and ordered to pay £100 costs.