A TEENAGER who started drinking "without being discouraged" when he was just 11 years old was jailed for 90 days by Blackburn magistrates.

The court heard that Mark Craig had failed to respond to previous orders of the court and that a custodial sentence was the only option.

But defence solicitor Andrew Church-Taylor said his client's problem with drink was behind his predicament, which was a classic Catch 22 situation.

"The orders are imposed because of his drink-driven offending but they can't give him the help he needs because he fails to attend, again through drink," said Mr Church-Taylor.

Craig, 18, of Spring Street, Accrington, admitted failing to comply with community punishment orders imposed for shoplifting, racially aggravated threatening behaviour and criminal damage.

The court heard that he had initially been made subject to a referral order but had not kept any appointments.

It was replaced with the community punishment orders but not one hour had been completed.

Mr Church-Taylor said that while Craig had not complied with the orders he had not committed any further offences.

"His problem is drink and I would ask you to look at his problem and accept that it is an illness," said Mr Church-Taylor.

"His mother was an alcoholic and he has been drinking since he was 11 years old when he was not discouraged."