A MAN who threatened to burn a pharmacist's house down and assaulted a police officer has been sent to prison.

David William Hunt, of Thames Road, Walney, pleaded guilty to a public order offence and assault at Furness Magistrates' Court.

The court heard that in November last year Hunt became aggressive at a local pharmacy when he was unable to collect a prescription for methadone.

Mr Lee Dacre, prosecuting, said: "Mr Hunt attended Murray's pharmacy in Walney at 11.15am on November 18 to collect his methadone script. He was told he couldn't collect his prescription anymore, he was upset and began shouting and complaining."

Mr Dacre went on to describe how Hunt verbally abused the pharmacist who denied his prescription.

"He said, 'I know where you live, I'll burn your ******* house down,'" Mr Dacre continued.

Hunt then left the premises, travelling to drug support group Unity in a bid to find an alternative source of methadone.

"When Mr Hunt arrived, he was under the influence, he was unsteady on his feet and slurring. A staff member at Unity told Hunt that he couldn't collect his script any more," said Mr Dacre.

Hunt was upset at hearing this, resulting in the police being called to Unity to try to calm the defendant down.

Because of the apparent intoxicated state of Hunt, police attempted to search him but this resulted in Hunt becoming even more agitated.

Mr Dacre said: "Hunt said, 'You're not ******* touching me.' Hunt then moved his right hand to his jacket pocket."

Concerned Hunt could have been carrying a weapon, PC Calladine, the attending officer, moved to restrain Hunt, receiving minor injuries to an arm and a scratched face during a struggle.

Ms Maureen Fawcett, defending, said her client was "unhappy" when he heard he was no longer able to receive methadone.

She said: "He was going to the pharmacy to get methadone, he was upset that that wasn't the case. He was told that he had to go to Unity. He knows that his actions were over the top, he didn't mean to carry out those actions."

Ms Fawcett said her client suffered from severe back pain caused by sciatica.

Speaking from the dock, Hunt said he became addicted to methadone when serving time in prison, as the drug was the only available pain relief for his back.

Ms Fawcett concluded by stating her client knew his actions were wrong, but that he believed he was "acting in self defence" when restrained by PC Calladine.

The bench, chaired by Susan Thurston, sentenced Hunt to 11 weeks for the public order offence and 11 weeks for assaulting a police officer. He was told he would serve those sentences consecutively.

He was also ordered to pay £150 in court costs, £100 compensation to the police officer, £50 compensation to the pharmacist and a victim surcharge of £115.