A 23-YEAR-OLD man walked into a police station, put a rock of crack cocaine on the counter and demanded to be arrested.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Sohail Patel had developed a recent drug problem and had decided that arrest and prosecution was the only way he could tackle it.

Patel, of Chorley Old Road, Bolton, pleaded guilty to possessing crack cocaine. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £55 costs.

Teresa Feeley, prosecuting, said Patel had walked into the police station and made his unusual demand.

Miss Feeley said: "He told the officers he had recently started taking the drug and was desperate to give it up. He said he had tried to break the habit himself but it hadn't worked. He also said that if the police didn't arrest him he would go out and buy some more."

Michael Blacklidge, defending, said Patel's life had been perfectly normal with regular employment until shortly before Christmas when a drug problem developed. He added: "The speed with which it took hold should be a warning to anyone contemplating dabbling with Class A drugs."