A MAN who attacked police officers is behind bars after a judge told him he had sent himself to prison by ignoring the chance to sort out his life.

Recorder Stephen Biddle said James Butterworth had chosen not to take the opportunity when he was sent to a hostel to try and solve his drink problem -- but his co-defendant Dennis Slater was now going to get his chance.

Butterworth was sent to detention for 18 months.

Slater was given a two-year community rehabilitation order, after the judge said it was not necessary to send him to custody as he had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Butterworth, 18, of no fixed address, had earlier admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and been convicted of assaulting a police officer with intent to resist arrest.

Slater, 22, of Haywood Road, Accrington, had been convicted of assault with intent to resist arrest.

Charles Brown, prosecuting, said last September Alan Littler, who was extremely drunk, was making his way home from a workingmen's club, when he had an altercation with Butterworth.

The other offence took place last November, when police, after reports of criminal damage, heard comments relating to it as they passed a house. They went inside and there were two melees in which Butterworth headbutted an officer and Slater punched out and was CS gassed.

Paul Hague, defending Butterworth, said he had not been able to stop drinking, the hostel would not have him back and the court had no option but to send him to prison.

The defendant, who wou

John 0'Shea, defending Slater, said he was a bit of a 'hot head' and occasionally had too much to drink.