A MAN who was being thrown out of a home for the homeless told a member of staff he would burn the place down.

Blackburn magistrates heard Owen Buck later threw paint all over his room and a corridor causing £500 worth of damage at Emmaus House on Old Hall Street, Burnley.

Buck, 21, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and making a threat to burn the property down. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Emmaus House was a community property for the benefit of homeless people. Buck had been given notice to leave the property because he wasn't complying with the rules.

The member of staff who Buck made the threat to said she was concerned for her own safety and that of other residents. She said she believed he was capable of carrying out his threat.

Gareth Price, defending, said his client had no intention of acting on the threat which was made in the heat of the moment.

"He had been at the property for about a month and felt he was being picked on," said Mr Price. "He vented his frustration on this member of staff. He has lost his accommodation and is going to have to try and rebuild his life from scratch."