POLICE dragged a worshipper out of a St Annes church 'like an international terrorist' this week, a court has heard.

Six police officers in two vans turned up at Our Lady of the Sea Roman Catholic Church to apprehend Simon Frodsham on Tuesday.

Frodsham's crime was to enter the church in the first place, Blackpool Magistrates heard. He is the subject of a five-year anti-social behaviour order, dubbed 'draconian' by his defence, banning him from more than 100 churches in the Borough of Fylde.

Frodsham, 32, of no fixed address, is charged with entering the church while forbidden to do so. He pleaded not guilty, and reporting restrictions were lifted at the defence's request.

He was bailed unconditionally until today (Thursday).

Mr Andrew Montgomery, prosecuting, said at 10.15am on March 4 the defendant entered Our Lady Star of the Sea, in contravention of an anti-social behaviour order.

Simon Townley, defending, said: "My client is someone who regularly attends to worship at church. The order forbids him from entering any church in Fylde Borough. This is quite astonishing and most draconian.

"Yesterday he felt in need of comfort and went to church. He was on his knees in prayer with his eyes closed when he heard a fracas. He looked up from his prayer to see a large number of police officers. Two police vans and at least half a dozen police officers had come to deal with him.

"In years gone by, the officers would have had their hands tied, as there was a clear rule people could take sanctuary in church.

"The police barged into the church, came down the aisle and arrested him in front of the congregation. Then he was dragged out like an international terrorist.

"One could perhaps half understand it if the police had waited outside until he had finished praying and then taken him into custody."

Mr Townley said Frodsham had not been given a map of Fylde Borough when the order was made and his defence was that he did not realise the church was within the borough boundary.

The defence added Frodsham had not been present when the order was made and had no legal representation.

The order breached Frodsham's human rights in respect of freedom of religion and was being appealed against.

A district judge made the order against Frodsham on January 24. In addition to banning him from churches and church buildings, it also prohibited him from going into the town centres of Lytham and Ansdell or to Fylde Rugby Club.

The court heard that Frodsham, who chose to live on the streets despite being offered a flat, had been a nuisance at two or three churches.

He had slept in the churches and once drew horns and a beard on a priest's picture.

He had also occasionally taken coins from the collection plates to buy food, because his view was the collection was for the poor and he was poor.