A 20-year-old Accrington man found in possession of an ecstasy tablet claimed he had been given the drug by a man he did not know.

Neil Kirkham, of Wensley Drive, pleaded guilty to possession of ecstasy and was fined £75 with £75 costs.

Wendy Shackleton, prosecuting, said staff at Utopia nightclub in Blackburn searched Kirkham and recovered the tablet.

He later told police he had been given the tablet by someone he did not know and no money had changed hands.

Julian Peers, defending, said Kirkham, a self-employed joiner, was not a drug user.

He had been drinking and had no intention of taking the tablet and does not know if he would have done," said Mr Peers.