POLICE called out at midnight found a drunken man lying unconscious on the ground and a little boy next to him.

Burnley magistrates heard how Karl Sanders, 20, was incoherent after officers tried to revive him, but was eventually able to give the child's name.

His solicitor told the court how Sanders had been sober when he was asked to look after the three year old, but then started drinking Southern Comfort.

The defendant, who had a previous conviction for drink driving, had known the youngster since he was born and felt his behaviour was the worst thing he had ever done in his life.

Sanders, of Newmarket Street, Colne, admitted being found drunk while in charge of a child and was given a 12 months conditional discharge with £55 costs.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said police were told a man appeared drunk outside Whiteside Butchers, in Keighley Road, Colne, and that a young child was with him.

They tried to revive the defendant but he woke up and told officers to get off.

After he gave the boy's name, police went to where the child's mother was working. She confirmed she had asked Sanders to look after the child and he had been sober at the time.

Mark Williams, defending, said Sanders started looking after the boy at 6pm and had been in a perfect condition to look after him. He had minded the youngster regularly and had always been done so in a responsible, proper and sensible way.

He then went drinking at his sister's, drank too much and did not know if he collapsed or fell.

Mr Williams said the defendant was acutely aware and very concerned about what might have happened to the little boy. Fortunately, nothing did. The child could have wandered off and Sanders should have looked after him properly.

Sanders thought what he had done was far worse than driving with excess alcohol. Mr Williams went on: "He was there to look after the boy. He didn't. He let the child down and he has let himself down."