A THIEF who helped himself to a crate of lager has had a drink problem since he was 12, a court was told.

Burnley Magistrates heard how Marc Brian Swain, 28, had tried to walk out of Barnoldswick Co-op without paying.

Staff took him to the foyer where he became violent and tried to run away.

Swain claimed he had hepatitis, had a dirty needle and was going to squirt them with it.

The defendant was eventually restrained but was so violent and uncontrollable officers had to let a police dog go to subdue him.

Swain, a "persistent offender," of Coates Avenue, Barnoldswick, admitted theft and was given a 12-months community rehabilitation order.

Graeme Tindall, defending, said Swain had had a drink problem since he was 12 when his father died.

He also had psychiatric problems.