A MAN who had been ordered to do unpaid work revealed to probation a one litre of vodka a day drinking habit when he turned up for his first session.

Blackburn magistrates heard Ian David Boys said he started drinking as soon as he got up so he could cope with the day ahead.

Boys, 52, of Sycamore Avenue, Burnley, had been sentenced to community supervision including 120 hours unpaid work for an offence of assault.

The probation service applied for the unpaid work element to be revoked on the basis it was unworkable.

The court heard Boys had been sentenced after a pre-sentence report had been prepared but he had not revealed his drinking problem when he was interviewed.

He announced his drinking habits when he went for his first appointment after being sentenced.

District Judge James Clarke revoked the unpaid work element of the order and replaced it with a six months alcohol treatment requirement.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said it was a pity his client had not flagged up his problem when he was first interviewed.