A man thrown out of a Darwen pub on Christmas Eve went back armed with a pool ball in a sock and threatened staff, a court was told.

When Aaron James Gray was later arrested he was only wearing one sock and the other was found in his pocket with the pool ball still inside, Blackburn magistrates were told.

Gray, 19, of Laurel Avenue, Darwen, pleaded guilty to having an offensive weapon in a public place and being drunk and disorderly.

He was made subject to a community super-vision order for 18 months and ordered to do 150 community punishment.

He was also fined £75 and ordered to pay £65 costs.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said Gray had drunk far too much on Christmas Eve and there was no other reason for the offence.