A ROSSENDALE criminal has become the first person in East Lancashire to be given a tough new community sentence instead of going to jail.

Philip Peter Brearley, 20, is only the third person in the county to have been made subject to the pioneering Intensive Control and Change Programme, designed to be an effective alternative to short term custody and to break the cycle of re-offending among young criminals. The scheme is being piloted in 11 areas throughout the country, including Lancashire.

Brearley, who has notched up more than 12 convictions but has not so far been sent to prison, appeared before Burnley magistrates after a string of offences, including altering a prescription and damaging a police station cell.

The defendant, of New Line, Bacup, had admitted theft by finding, forging a prescription, theft allegations and damage, committed in September and October.

He was given 60 hours community punishment, 12 months community rehabilitation to include the Think First programme and a 180 day curfew between the hours of 9pm and 7am.

The new sentence, known as the ICCP, is aimed at offenders between the ages of 18 and 20 who are at risk of going to prison for less than a year and who are assessed as medium to high risk of further offending.

The ICCP is targeted at young criminals because they account for 20 per cent of all reconvictions and are least likely to receive rehabilitative services despite being the most likely to need help. They are also twice as likely to receive short jail terms and have high rates of conviction after being sent to prison for less than 12 months.

Offenders are controlled by curfews and also have to take part in several activities geared towards helping them change.