A 27-year-old man launched a tirade of racist abuse when an Asian shop assistant accused him of stealing a can of lager, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Kevin Donnelly returned less that three hours later and repeated the verbal attack and this time smashed a window for good measure.

Donnelly, of Oban Drive, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two charges of racially aggravated threatening behaviour and one of criminal damage.

He was fined a total of £400 and ordered to pay £99 compensation and £100 costs.

Scott Ainge, prosecuting, said the female assistant was working in the Spar shop on Rothesay Road when she saw Donnelly place a can of lager in his pocket before offering to pay for two other cans.

She challenged him and he began swearing and shouting racist abuse. "She feared she was going to be attacked but the defendant left the shop," said Mr Ainge.

"He returned less than three hours later and continued where he had left off. He left the shop having shouted his abuse and was seen to kick the front door window."

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said Donnelly was on his way to visit friends who lived nearby and already had a can of lager with him when he entered the shop.

"He was accused of theft by the woman in the shop and that is when the argument started," said Mr Taylor.

"My client's mother is of mixed race, his grandfather is Indian and he is appalled that he used language of this kind.

"It happened in the heat of the moment, when he was drunk and he deeply regrets the incident."