AN 18-year-old became abusive towards a police officer who was trying to help a woman who was searching for her missing daughter.

Blackburn magistrates heard the woman was in a distressed state and was being confronted by Firdosh Mohammed Umarji and his family who she suspected had information about her 14-year-old daughter.

Umarji, of July Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour and was remanded on bail until March 29 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Claire Fanning, prosecuting, said an officer found the woman involved in an altercation with a group at 3.30pm. As soon as the officer became involved Umarji became abusive. He was told to mind his language and given a warning but refused to comply and was arrested.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said his client had been in bed when he received a phone call from the woman asking if he knew anything about her daughter's whereabouts.

"He knew nothing about the girl and that is what he and his family were telling the mother and her boyfriend who were causing difficulties," said Mr Church-Taylor. "During the course of the exchange he was aware of a threat made to his father by the boyfriend and he became very upset that they weren't being believed."