A HOMELESS MAN who regularly begged outside a Blackburn store racially abused a member of the security staff.

Blackburn magistrates heard David Kealey had entered the store despite being banned and when he ordered out shouted racist abuse, saying they couldn't stop him coming in.

Kealey, 52, of no fixed address, was convicted in his absence of racially aggravated threatening behaviour. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said when Kealey was initially told to leave the store he did but returned a few minutes later.

He became aggressive and shouted racist abuse, claiming he was from the National Front and that he would have the security guard "taken care of".

Waseem Choudhary, defending, said his client insisted he was not racist and still maintained he was not guilty of the offence.

"He says he was confronted by the security guard and it was him who was aggressive," said Mr Choudhary.

"He still denies using racist language."