A MAN who had been out drowning his sorrows following the death of his 83-year-old mother racially abused a taxi driver.

Blackburn magistrates heard the driver did not want to make a complaint but the words were heard by a police officer who arrested Samuel Stewart.

Stewart, 62, of Sharples Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated threatening behaviour on April 12.

He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said an officer saw Stewart, who was clearly drunk, being abusive towards the taxi driver before shouting a racist comment at him.

Richard Prew, defending, said his client’s mother had died two days earlier and he had been out drinking.

“He has very little recollection of the incident and accepts what the officer says,” aid Mr Prew.