A CATERING boss who wrecked part of the inside of a police Land Rover after a night out in Clitheroe had been left in the darkened vehicle for half an hour, a court heard.

Burnley Magistrates were told "well respected businessman" Stephen Henry Marsden, 37, had been arrested after a dispute over a taxi fare but felt he was the aggrieved party.

Marsden, of Fir Trees House, Fir Trees Lane, Higham, was conditionally discharged for 12 months, with £100 compensation and £69 costs.

He admitted destroying or damaging property, on November 9. An allegation of obtaining a service by deception was dismissed.

Joanne Shahzada, prosecuting, said the defendant was taken to Colne police station and on arrival he started banging on the inside of the van. When the door was opened, officers found a panel and some wiring on the floor. Marsden said he did not care.

Marsden, who had since undertaken to pay the taxi fare, told police he had not known what he was doing in the vehicle. He had not intended to cause any damage and he had stopped banging when officers went to the vehicle.

David Lawson, defending, said Marsden, the manager of a catering firm, had taken some employees who would be working over Christmas on a pre-festive season night out in Clitheroe.

On his journey home, he got in a taxi and was quoted a fare of £10 for the journey back to Higham but when it arrived, the defendant was told it would cost £21.90.

Marsden started complaining that that was not the price that had been agreed and flagged down a passing police car. Officers stopped and intervened.

Mr Lawson told the court; "Police then arrested him. In my opinion, they had no right to arrest him in a dispute over a fare, which is a civil matter."