A MAN told police he had tried to steal a bottle of whisky because he had been drinking but wanted to get "really smashed."

Blackburn magistrates heard that John Hallwood had turned to drink after being posted to Northern Ireland while in the army and was now struggling to get his life back on track.

Hallwood, 39, of Lawrence Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to shoplifting at Morrisons. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £117 costs.

Ian Huggan, defending, said Hallwood had found the strain of serving in Northern Ireland extremely difficult to cope with. "He sought professional assistance, but in those days it was not as readily available as it perhaps is today," said Mr Huggan.