THE mother of a "difficult" teenager constantly up before the courts has lost her bid to have a parenting order quashed.

The woman told a crown court judge the order, which required her to attend counselling and guidance once a fortnight for three months, was not necessary - but he disagreed.

Judge Stuart Baker said the Burnley 14-year-old had a disturbingly long and increasingly serious record and was a persistent offender.

He told the mum-of-three, who cannot be named for legal reasons, the order was not meant to be punitive but to give her the chance to get counselling.

The judge, sitting with two magistrates at Burnley Crown Court, said he did not think the order was oppressive, adding: "We think the parenting order is entirely right."

The bench dismissed the appeal over the decision made at Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Youth Court.

The court was told a parenting order had to be imposed when an offender was under 16 unless there were special reasons.

The boy had a record for damage, possessing an offensive weapon, drugs, theft and burglary.

David Pojur, representing the mother, told the court the boy was difficult and challenging but now appeared to be much more settled.

It was not a case where the mother was neglectful or idle or was an absent parent. She faced a difficult task as the child had severe emotional and conduct disorder.

The mother was being helped by her son's school, the adolescent mental health services and the social services, who were now considering closing the case.

Mr Pojur added the mother had been very pro-active in trying to help the teenager and the influence she did have was positive. The risk of the teenager reoffending, he added, was moderately low.