A PERSISTENT thief who was banned from every shop in Accrington town centre was caught stealing in Burnley.

Blackburn magistrates heard the conviction was the 98th on John Crabtree's record and Richard Prew, defending, said is client was in the 'revolving door' syndrome of offending and prison.

District Judge James Clarke told Crabtree: "It looks as though this revolving door has been spinning since 1983 and you must be getting dizzy by now.

"I can promise you if you get to 100 convictions you will not get a prize."

Crabtree, 65, of Lonsdale Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to stealing two bottles of washing up liquid from Wilko.

He was banned from all Wilko stores for three months and ordered to pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said Crabtree was subject to a Criminal Behaviour Order which banned him from all stores in Accrington town centre.

Mr Prew said his client had committed 50 thefts since the beginning of 2017 and most of them had been in Accrington.

He said an application will be made to the court on September 5 for the Criminal Behaviour Order to be removed on the basis his client was not able to comply because of memory problems.