A MOTHER-of-four breached an anti-social behaviour order by taking her children to see the switching on of Burnley Christmas lights, a court heard.

The Burnley magistrates were told how Susan Howarth, 38, was banned from the town centre because of her record for thieving.

But police saw her in the crowd at the switching on ceremony and she was arrested.

Howarth,, of Brunswick Street, Burnley, admitted breaching the ASBO for the third time and was bailed for reports.

She could have been facing up to five years in jail, but the bench told her they were looking at a low-level community penalty.

Sue Campbell, prosecuting, told the court the defendant had been given the two-year order in February 2006 because she stole from shops and stores and from shoppers themselves.

On November 15, police saw her in the centre when the Christmas lights were switched on and the shops were open late for the first night.

Mrs Campbell said when Howarth was arrested, she admitted she knew she was not allowed into the town centre, but said she did not want her children to miss the switching on of the lights.

Graeme Tindall, defend-ing, said Howarth, whose children were three, 13, 16 and 19, explained to police she had not been in any shops.There was nothing to suggest she was there to commit crime, he said.