A 53-YEAR-OLD man produced a knife when police arrived at his home to speak to him about repeated 999 calls.

Blackburn magistrates heard John David Ashworth had to be tasered before he could be arrested.

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Ashworth, of Downham Street, Blackburn, was convicted after trial for two police assaults. He was made subject to community supervision for 12 months and ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work and pay £600 costs and £60 compensation to each officer.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the officers went to see Ashworth because he had made repeated calls to the police emergency number and been abusive to the operator. As soon as he saw the officers Ashworth became abusive and then produced the knife from the waistband of his trousers.

Paul Huxley, defending, said Ashworth had recently been the victim of an attempted kidnap during which he was badly beaten, thrown into the canal and a piece of concrete thrown at him.

“The day before this incident he had been out and had been accosted by a number of males. He called the police. They did turn up but hours later.”