But 28-year-old Sean Whiteside from Preston in Lancashire has pledged to beat his demons for good after cutting down his boozing - to 30 cans a day.

The father-of-one, from King Street, Lostock Hall, started drinking when he was just 11 and says his alcohol intake has got steadily worse.

A former Royal Artillery soldier and self employed groundworker, he
gave up work 12 months ago after his addiction became too much.

He says he is unable to work and has put in a claim for incapacity benefit because of his illness.

Whiteside, who lives with his partner, Michelle Mason, 26, and their seven-year-old daughter, agreed to tell his story after his boozing landed him in court.

On Monday he was given a two-month suspended jail term after pleading guilty to breaking into a neighbour's house in July and stealing beer and £25 worth of change.

Since the offence, Whiteside says he has cut out brandy and one night a week goes for help with his addiction at Preston's Alcohol and Drug Services centre in Fox Street.

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But he admits he still starts drinking lager when he gets up every day between 5.30 and 6.30am.

When he goes to bed in the early hours of the following day he takes four cans of Carling or Fosters lager to bed with him. He added: "I just need it now, I just need it in me.

The court heard Whiteside stole eight cans of lager and the change. His DNA was recovered from blood found in the fridge of his neighbour's home and he was arrested in September.

In a police interview, Whiteside said he accidentally kicked his ball into the living room of the property and broke in to retrieve it.

He offered to pay for damage and was extremely drunk when arrested.
Mr Mark Stephenson, defending, said he now seemed to have turned the corner with alcohol.

Whiteside was also given a two-year supervision and an alcohol treatment requirement. He was ordered to pay £545 compensation and £245 costs.

Judge Christopher Cornwall said his story about a ball accidentally going into the house bordered on the "incredible".

He added: "It almost defies belief how anyone can drink 48 cans of lager a day and a bottle or two of spirits.

"You have reduced your intake to 30 a day, but it is still an astonishing amount for someone with a damaged liver. Every single drink does you a bit more harm."