A 21-year-old Longridge man cried as he was sentenced to six weeks in prison for intimidating a witness.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Lee Luke Haworth went to the shop where Michelle Singleton worked, called her a grass and a liar and warned that he knew where she lived.

Haworth, of Wellbrow Drive, pleaded guilty to one offence of witness intimidation and a second charge was withdrawn.

Neil Standage, prosecuting, said Miss Singleton worked in the United Norwest Co-op in Longridge.

Haworth had been charged with theft from the shop and she was a witness. On the day of the intimidation offence he had shouted in through the open door.

"What he said put the woman in great fear for her own safety," said Mr Standage.

Sentencing Haworth, stipendiary magistrate Jonathon Finestein said he accepted the offence had been committed when Haworth was under stress and had not been premeditated.

"But this is a very serious offence indeed," said Mr Finestein.

"Witnesses have to be protected by the courts and if you go round intimidating them prison will follow."

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