IAN Roberts lost his cool with three youths waiting for a cab in a Blackburn taxi office.

Blackburn magistrates heard he made a derogatory comment about them being from Burnley and said that when they had gone he would get a taxi.

Roberts, 37, of Full View, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and was fined £45 with £55 costs.

Lesley Halliwell, defending, said the three young men had come into the taxi office after Roberts and he thought they had been taking drugs.

"He was drawn into an argument with them," said Miss Halliwell.

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