LACK of support for youngsters was blamed for causing juveniles to commit crimes by a solicitor at Burnley magistrates' court.

Lynne Slater spoke out in a youth court session after defending two young offenders -- boys aged 15 and 17 -- convicted of a burglary at a Nelson farm on April 9 this year.

Items stolen included a vacuum cleaner, mountain bike and a quantity of alcohol, most of which were recovered later.

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, said: "If these two people had been adults they would no doubt be facing the wrath of a crown court judge this morning."

But Ms Slater asked the bench for leniency, saying that neither had had a good home life.

She said one had had to fend for himself when his mother was taken ill and the other had virtually no parental care whatsoever, in recent months living in a hostel for homeless youngsters and the home of an absent father.

Of the latter, Ms Slater added: "It is a sad fact that the majority of young people who come before this court don't have the correct guidance and support.

"Maybe it should be the parents who appear in court for not caring properly for their offspring.

"He is not a real menace to society, unlike many other young people who are in this court on a weekly basis."

The younger of the two boys was sentenced to a six-month supervision order and the older to a three-month action plan which requires him to attend training and development services for 20 hours a week and sessions on citizenship and peer pressure.