A MAN racially abused a pharmacist after being told he was banned from the shop.

Blackburn magistrates heard the decision to bar Mark Baines had been made as a result of his behaviour on the last occasion he visited the shop on Coal Clough Lane, Burnley.

And the court was told the pharmacist, Burhan Qureshi, was disappointed by the incident because he had always tried to help the defendant with his problems.

Baines, 44, of Melrose Avenue, Burnley, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated threatening behaviour.

He was made subject to a community order for nine months with 15 days rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to pay £50 compensation and £85 costs.

He was excluded from all Cohens Chemist shops for nine months.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Baines had been banned from the shop because of racist behaviour on a previous occasion.

"They hadn't been able to tell him about the ban until he came back to the shop on the day of this offence," said Miss Allan.

"Mr Qureshi told him he needed to leave and he immediately became aggressive, shouting at the pharmacist. He called him a n***** and threw a bottle at him which missed but knocked over a display."

Mark Williams, defending, said his client recognised that staff at the shop had been helpful and understanding of his problems in the past.

"He bitterly regrets what he did," said Mr Williams.