A BARE chested man who was chased through Blackburn town centre by police picked up an officer and body slammed him.

Blackburn magistrates heard Liam Chapman landed on the officer who then held on to him until other officers arrived and dragged him off.

Chapman, 20, of Dunoon Drive, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty. He was fined £80 and ordered to pay £50 compensation to the officer, £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge.

Alex Mann, prosecuting, were investigating an incident in Blackburn town centre when they came across Chapman. He was topless and when he was approached ran off in the direction of Barbara Castle Way.

When the officer caught up with him Chapman said he hadn't done anything wrong and then grabbed the officer round the torso, lifted him off his feet and slammed him to the floor.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client had never been in trouble before. He said Chapman had been involved in an incident in a pub involving two ex-girlfriends and he had eventually been thrown out.

"When the police arrived he panicked and ran," said Mr Taylor. "He ran quite a distance before the police caught up and they were annoyed. He feels they took hold of him a little roughly and because of their heavy-handedness he responded by picking the officer up."