A 39-YEAR-OLD man who went "Christmas shoplifting" in Clitheroe will spend the festive season inside after being jailed for 90 days.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Paul McCartney, who has more than 100 convictions, mainly for offences of theft, was recognised when he visited the Ribble Valley.

And when police arrested him they found items stolen from four different shops.

McCartney, 39, of Douglas Place, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft of a teddy bear from the Card Centre, Christmas Cards from Party People and handling perfume stolen from Boots and a power drill stolen from Woolworths.

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, said McCartney was well known to police who received information that he was in Clitheroe town centre.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said drugs were at the root of McCartney's offending. He said last week his partner had asked to go to prison to help her beat her addiction and that had come just three weeks after the birth of their child.

"If it was just Paul McCartney and his partner I couldn't really say anything but we now have a small child in the equation," said Mr Church-Taylor.