A CANADIAN businessman working in East Lancashire blamed a combination of jet lag and too much lager when he was arrested after threatening a Ribble Valley hotel owner with a screwdriver.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Eugene Gebka, 53, was staying at the Brown Leaves Hotel, Copster Green, when the incident occurred on Sunday.

Gebka, from Toronto, admitted a breach of the peace and was bound over in £50 to keep the peace for three months. He will return to Canada on Saturday.

Neil White, prosecuting, said the owner of the hotel, Mr Fisher, was approached by another man who was sharing a room with Gebka who claimed his colleague was becoming a pest because of drink. At that stage there were no real problems, but shortly after Gebka came into the bar area brandishing a screwdriver and tried to stab Mr Fisher. The hotelier grabbed him by the arm and restrained him until police arrived.

Ian Holland, defending, said Gebka owned his own company in Toronto and was a man of previous good character.

"He remembers very little of the incident but is horrified to find himself before the court," said Mr Holland.