A DAD who left his children to fend for themselves while he went out with his girlfriend had previously tried to get help from social services, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard that David Kay accepted that he could not cope with his 15-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son.

But his plea for help went unanswered and Richard Prew, defending, said that had social services got involved there might not have been a court case.

"Your initial gut reaction may be that this man needs punishing," said Mr Prew.

"Perhaps when you have heard the full circumstances you will change your view and see that he needs help."

Kay, 47, of Shorey Bank, Darwen, pleaded guilty to wilfully abandoning his children and he was given a conditional discharge for 18 months.

Silvia Dacre, prosecuting, said police were called to the family home by neighbours who had complained on previous occasions that the children were being left to their own devices.

It was not the first time the police had attended because of problems with the children. There was no heating in the house, which was in a state of disrepair, and only one working light bulb on the ground floor. The daughter said her dad had gone out with his girlfriend but was expected back by midnight.

When police returned after midnight Kay had not come home and the children said they had nowhere else to stay. They were taken to the police station where they were allowed to spend the night in the front office.

At the house the police found a kitchen knife hidden under a carpet which the children said was to protect themselves if they were attacked.

When interviewed Kay admitted the children were out of control and that he could not cope. He said he regularly left them on their own and said that at their age they should be able to fend for themselves.

He admitted that on the latest occasion he had spent the day in Blackpool with his girlfriend and then gone to her house for the night.

After the case, Ken Foote, Director of Social Services, said: "Blackburn with Darwen Social services have offered considerable help,

advice and support to Mr Kay in his parenting role."