A PERSISTENT thief banned from Burnley town centre ended up in custody after being found in the town's shopping centre.

Burnley magistrates heard John Barnes, 37, subject of an Anti-social Behaviour Order (ASBO), was not committing any crime. He later claimed he had thought it was just town centre stores from which he was banned.

Barnes, of Parkinson Street, Burnley, admitted breaching the ASBO, imposed on November 4, by entering Charter Walk, St James Street.

The defendant was fined £50 but the bench said they would consider it paid as he had spent the night in the cells.

Carl Gaffney, prosecuting, told the court the Crown could not say the defendant was in any way involved in criminal activity.

He was forbidden from entering the town centre. Barnes did not resist police when he was arrested.

It was his first breach of the order, he admitted the offence at the police station and there was no crime victim.

Richard Taylor, defending, said Barnes was subject to a drug referral order. He had a significant problem but was attending various appointments.

Barnes thought he was not allowed to go into shops but he must have been told the order's prohibitions when the order was made.