THE PROBATION service has been told to come up with a plan to help keep Fareham troublemaker Daniel Youngs off the booze and out of trouble.

District Judge John Woollard told Youngs he would have to spend the next three weeks in jail while attempts were made to come up with a way of dealing with him.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Judge Woollard ordered Youngs to spend a night in the cells after turning up to Fareham Magistrates' Court drunk last Thursday.

When he appeared the next day, looking the worse for wear, Youngs was told the options open to him were running out after he admitted stealing lager from a Fareham store while on probation for previous offences, under a curfew, and subject to an Antisocial Behaviour Order.

Portsmouth Magistrates' Court heard how Youngs had walked in to Somerfield in Highlands Road, Fareham, on October 16, picked up an eight-pack of lager and walked past the checkout without paying.

When he was found with the lager Youngs told police he had stolen it to sell on to pay for electricity at his home on Privett Road.

Mitigating for Youngs, Nigel Hodkinson said his client realised he had a problem with drink and was trying to address it.

"He used to have a drug problem but now he has replaced the drugs with drink. He has been dealing with it despite what you have observed.

"It is a difficult situation as if you do send him to prison he is going to go back to square one. I cannot promise that he will not commit further offences but what I can say is he is trying his inadequate best to cut his record down."

The court heard how this year alone Youngs had been convicted for 17 shoplifting offences.

Judge Woollard told Youngs: "It still seems to me that it is in the long term interest of the community to see if you can address your alcohol problem."

Youngs was remanded in custody for three weeks while reports on him were prepared.