A Selby lawyer has launched a scathing attack on a pioneering project to help drug addicts kick their habit.

Keith Haggerty said the new Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTO) - introduced as an alternative to prison - were nothing more than a talking shop.

He told Selby magistrates that addicts who qualified for the orders were being denied medication such as methadone, a heroin substitute.

They were desperate to become "clean", but were so depressed and disillusioned by the lack of medication they were returning to crime to fund their addiction.

Mr Haggerty slammed the scheme while defending Mark Tyrone Hall, 34, of Charles Street, Selby.

Hall was on a DTTO when he went shoplifting at two Selby supermarkets to get cash for drugs.

Mr Haggerty said: "My client thought it was a golden opportunity when he was put on a DTTO in July, but he has done nothing but talk.

"He asked for medication and they said it wasn't the be all and end all. He saw a link worker instead.

"He then asked for a letter to take to his doctor but the answer was no."

Hall finally saw his doctor who referred him to a counselling agency, said Mr Haggerty.

DTTO project manager for North Yorkshire, Linda Marginson, today hit back, saying the initiative had only been launched in Selby in April and was still being developed.

She said: "There has been a recent report on reducing methadone-related deaths and therefore people have to be assessed properly for substitute prescribing.

"This takes several weeks and GPs have to be very sure they are prescribing the right amount."

Mrs Marginson added: "Mr Haggerty's comments are unfortunate - negativity of this kind doesn't help."

Hall, who admitted theft, was remanded in custody until August 30 for sentence.

Updated: 15:21 Friday, August 10, 2001