A man involved in a dispute with a shop security officer claimed he had "sharpies" and had HIV.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard the threat made by Billy Smith frightened the security officer and made him consider changing his job.

Smith, 30, of Chester Crescent, Haslingden, pleaded guilty to assaulting Brian Langford on September 20 at Tesco in Eagle Street, Accrington.

He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the victim.

The court heard the offence was committed before Smith's last appearance in court, and Deputy District Judge Gary Garland said had all matters been dealt with at the same time the sentence would not have been much different.

Susheela Regala, prosecuting, said Smith entered the Tesco store in Accrington and was immediately asked to leave because he was banned.

He left but returned when the security officer asked to look in his girlfriend's bag.

"He told the guard to leave his girlfriend alone and then pushed him to the back of the head," said Miss Regala.

"When Mr Langford tried to restrain him he made the threat about sharpies and HIV."

Imran Hussain, mitigating, said the previous matters had resulted in a significant community order which he was in the process of completing.

"He apologises through me for what he did," said Mr Hussain. "He accepts the comments he made were unpleasant."