A 'DANGEROUS' shop raider who threatened two assistants with a broken bottle has been detained in hospital.

Burnley Crown Court heard how young dad Zaffer Hussain, 25, had absconded from Burnley General Hospital where he had been detained under the Mental Health Act at the time. One of his victims feared for her life while the other was left in shock.

Hussain, said by medics to be suffering from a mental illness which could be treated, was sent to Calderstones Hospital, Whalley, although his barrister said he would rather go to prison because the hospital was boring.

Making a hospital order, Judge Raymond Bennett said one psychiatrist believed the defendant was dangerous and presented a risk to others.

Hussain, of Green Street, Burnley, who said he wanted to harm others, would not get the treatment he needed if he was sent to jail. He had admitted robbery and possessing cannabis resin. He must stay at the hospital until a Mental Health Appeal Tribunal says it is safe to release him.

John O'Shea, prosecuting, said in February the defendant went into Healds Day and Night Store on Colne Road, Burnley, where two assistants were working. One knew he was suffering from mental illness. Hussain swiped his arm across a drinks shelf, knocking some bottles on the floor and he then picked up a smashed bottle, moved towards one assistant and demanded cash.

She ran away screaming and went to a nearby shop to phone police. Hussain then approached the other woman and told her to give him money as he held the broken bottle towards her.

The assistant took some notes out of the till and handed them to the defendant who told her to hurry up. Hussain was waving the broken bottle around, becoming aggressive and knocked some chocolates onto the floor.

Mr 0'Shea said police later went to the defendant's address and spoke to his partner who had told her to say nothing to police and to say he wasn't there. Hussain tried to leave the house from the back but was detained. He was taken to the police station but was unfit to be interviewed.

Mark Stuart, defending, said Hussain was currently an in-patient at Calderstones but wanted to go to prison because the hospital was boring and his mates were in custody. He had learning difficulties at school, suffered from eplilepsy and had a long history of drug and alcohol misuse.

His situation deteriorated and last December he was admitted to psychiatric hospital. Doctors were concerned about the risk he presented and he was taken to Calderstones for assessment. It was while he was waiting for a bed to become available that he committed the offence.