Persistent Blackburn shoplifter banned from multiple town centres across East Lancashire

John Sokolowski, 27, has been made subject to a community behaviour order (CBO) after appearing before magistrates charged with stealing a mobile phone from a hairdressers on Albion Street, Blackburn.

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He was also sentenced for failing to appear in court previously for two counts of shoplifting from McDonalds and one count of shoplifting from B&M Bargains, both in Blackburn.

He has 75 previous convictions relating to theft offences, public order offences, drugs offences and weapons offences.

The court heard that he began causing issues for shopkeepers in Blackburn in 2011, although the frequency increased after April 2014 when he was prohibited from entering his home town of Bolton because of an ASBO.

He frequently travelled across the east of the county, often by rail, to target other towns.

He was evicted from a number of the Blackburn town centre hostels due to his behaviour and often slept rough in and around the town centre and Blackburn train station.

Because of this he would regularly try and steal from stores as they opened in the morning.

He also regularly locked himself inside public toilets where he was suspected to be taking drugs.

Numerous attempts were made to help Mr Sokolowski, including the courts handing him drug rehabilitation orders and support being offered through the local drug and alcohol treatment service.

However, he declined the assistance that was offered to him and continued to offend.

At court last week he was handed an 18 week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was issued with the CBO which stipulates that he now cannot enter Blackburn, Clitheroe or Whalley town centres.

He must also leave any retail self-service outlet in Lancashire if asked by a manager, cannot remain on any railway station or adjoining railway premises if asked to leave by a member of staff and cannot remain on any rail service or rail replacement bus service if asked to leave by a member of staff.

The order will last for two years.

Evidence for the order was provided by several Lancashire police officers, officers from British Transport Police and security guards from local shops.

Ron O'Keeffe, security manager at The Mall shopping centre, Blackburn, and chair of Blackburn Businesses Against Crime, said: “Obviously for businesses in the town centre it’s a welcome move that we’ve got this CBO on John Sokolowski.

“He has been a prolific shoplifter and a persistent and aggressive beggar in Blackburn town centre for over two years and the police and partner agencies have worked hard to get the order implemented.

“Hopefully it will send the message out to persistent shoplifters that we’re not going to stand for it.”

PC Chris Hammill, of the Blackburn Neighbourhood Policing Team, added: “Mr Sokolowski has cost local shopkeepers a lot of money and I am sure they will be pleased to know he is no longer allowed to enter the town centres he has been blighting with his criminality.

“Hopefully this order will reassure residents that we take all complaints of this nature seriously and will not stop trying to make their towns safer.”