A PROLIFIC thief who was banned from shops in Accrington town centre has now been excluded from Blackburn's main retail areas.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Michael Aspin, who has 129 previous convictions for theft, committed more offences within a week of being released from prison.

Aspin, 30, of the Salvation Army, Heaton Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to stealing two Lynx deodorants from Superdrug and using threatening behaviour towards the shop manager, Craig Milligan.

He was jailed for 120 days and made subject to an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) banning him from Blackburn town centre and Grimshaw Park for two years.

The order also prohibits him from causing harassment, alarm or distress to anyone on retail premises. He must not enter retail premises from which he has been excluded and must leave when requested.

Neil White, prosecuting, said the latest offences were committed in the Mall six days after Aspin was released from prison. He was challenged by the store manager outside Superdrug and responded by saying; "Take your hand off me or you will get a needle."

"He did not have a needle but Mr Milligan had no reason to doubt that he would carry out the threat," said Mr White.

He said the incident did not put Aspin in breach of an existing ASBO because that referred only to shops and shop staff in Hyndburn.

"He is perhaps lucky not to be in breach of that order because the last time he did breach it he received a 16-month prison sentence," said Mr White.

Graham Parkinson, defending, said his client had been released from prison with a £44 grant which had quickly been spent.

"The motivation behind the theft was hunger," said Mr Parkinson.

He said Aspin had moved to Blackburn and would benefit from some rules being laid down similar to those in Accrington.

"He knows that if he fails to comply with an ASBO he will go to prison and I would say it is in everybody's interests that he knows the rules," added Mr Parkinson.