A TEENAGE tearaway branded "Miss Misery" because of the effect of her behaviour on others has been locked up for a string of offences.

Rachael Linford, 17, of Hodder Grove, Clitheroe, was sentenced to a four-month detention training order for six offences and three breaches of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order.

And the town's police inspector said the decision to jail Rachael Linford would send out a powerful message to other young offenders.

The offences were theft of her mother's cash card and using it to obtain £30 and £80 which she later told police was to buy cocaine, assault and being drunk and disorderly.

Lisa Worsley, prosecuting, said Linford's mother, Anne Bowman, had seen her daughter using a cash machine in Clitheroe.

She was immediately suspicious because she knew her daughter did not have a bank account.

She approached and demanded that Linford handed over the card.

The assault related to a 20-year-old man who was approached by Linford and another girl as he walked along Kemple View late at night.

The other girl asked for money before snatching the man's wallet out of his pocket.

Linford told the man that if he hit the other girl she would knock him out and then, without warning, the other girl butted him in the face. "He fell to the floor and at that point they both began punching and kicking him," said Mrs Worsley.

The court was told that the ASBO was imposed in May 2003 and Linford had previously been dealt with for two breaches.

Stephen Barker, defending, said the breaches of the ASBO all related to his client causing harassment, alarm or distress to the people of the Ribble Valley.

"Those and the offences are set against an abuse of alcohol and drugs," said Mr Barker. He said Linford had already spent seven and a half weeks in custody, the equivalent of a four month sentence.

He suggested that a programme of assistance might now be called for.

After the case, Inspector Bob Ford said: "It is disappointing that this young woman has continued to offend after the imposition of an ASBO.

"However, that order was the result of a long history of behaviour which had an adverse effect on the ordinary law abiding citizens of Clitheroe.

"Since Rachael has been in custody awaiting sentence Clitheroe has been a much quieter and better place to live."