A THIEF who dressed as a golfer to steal from other players has been banned from every golf course in the UK for two years.

Today police said the action against Brian John Corrigan, who was caught at Wilpshire Golf Club, sent out a powerful message to other travelling criminals.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Corrigan, 37, repeatedly targeted vehicles on golf club car parks across the north of England and Wales and stole expensive clubs and in-car entertainment systems.

The court was told that Corrigan was caught on one occasion wearing a Ping-branded sweatshirt and on another occasions wore Pringle sweaters, checked trousers and golf shoes as he mingled.

Corrigan was eventually caught after plain clothes police were alerted to suspicious activities at Wilpshire Golf Club and Corrigan and another man, Charles Paul Skelhorne, were arrested.

Corrigan, of Celebration Drive, Tubrook, Liverpool, and Skelhorne, 31, of Moss Craig, Stockbridge, Liverpool, both pleaded guilty to theft of a car stereo. Corrigan was made subject to a community rehabilitation order for 18 months and ordered to pay £250 costs and £50 compensation.

A two-year anti-social behaviour order prohibits Corrigan from entering any golf course in England and Wales unless he becomes a full member or has the permission of someone in authority; he is not to enter pub, hotel or restaurant car park in Lancashire during normal opening hours; and is not to associate with Skelhorne within the Lancashire police area.

Skelhorne was remanded on bail until April 6 for the preparation of a full pre-sentence report.

Insp Bob Ford, of Clitheroe police, said: "We welcome this order. The Ribble Valley, in particular, suffers from travelling criminals due to its good motorway access and the perceived affluence. This man was quite crafty in dressing up in golfing clothes. ASBOs are powerful tools in curbing people's activities and we hope this sends out a strong message to travelling criminals."