A TEENAGE alcoholic was sentenced to a total of four months in a young offender institution after he was convicted of a string of crimes.

Robert James McCrystal, 19, of Overlands Road in Weymouth, yesterday admitted causing fear or provocation of violence, failed bail, resisting a police constable and criminal damage.

He also admitted this was in breach of a conditional discharge imposed on August 3 for criminal damage.

Prosecuting, Richley Wood told Weymouth magistrates the criminal damage and resisting a constable took place on July 26, when McCrystal and another man jumped on the roof of a property in Abbotsbury Road. The owner shouted at McCrystal, who then jumped down onto a neighbour's car, damaging the bonnet and causing £609.25-worth of damage.

The police were called and arrested McCrystal, who was charged with resisting a police constable and criminal damage.

Then on August 26, in breach of his conditional discharge for those offences, CCTV footage showed McCrystal punching a man so hard he fell to the ground.

Mr Wood said McCrystal had drunk eight pints of lager and had very little memory of what happened.

In mitigation, Simon Brimacombe said McCrystal had been in custody since August 30. He said: "If you look at his history there is one consistent theme and that is alcohol.

"He is only 19 and yet considers himself an alcoholic."

Mr Brimacombe said McCrystal felt he had been very stupid in the past but had reflected on his position in prison. He said McCrystal had started going to Alcoholocs Anonymous meetings and had been given the position of assistant cleaner in prison.

Mr Brimacombe said: "It seems to me he is turning his life around as far as he is able."

Magistrates sentenced McCrystal to one month for each offence plus one month for breaching the conditional discharge, to run concurrently.