TWO 'prolific and persistant' burglars have banned from every backstreet and alleyway in Burnley and Pendle in the first ASBO of its kind.

Scott Dumigan, 30, of North Street, Burnley, and Robert Tunesi, 36, of Stott Street, Nelson, have criminal careers stretching back 15 years.

Police said Dumigan has 73 convictions for 170 offences while Tunesi has 56 convictions for 109 crimes and often acted together.

Both were convicted of three burglaries earlier this year with three others taken into account and were jailed for 12 weeks.

However, since release they have been arrested on suspicion a number of other offences including public order, stealing from cars and petty drugs offences.

Police applied for interim anti-social behaviour orders for both the men at Reedley Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The orders granted prevent the pair from associating with each other in public and entering any private property without permission of the occupier.

For the first time a condition was inserted that the pair are forbidden from “entering any backstreet, namely a street which gives access to the rear of any property”.

Police said that the orders were not a punishment but a 'preventative measure' which would give them more powers to deal with the men.

Anti Social Behaviour Officer PC Adam Gordon said: “Tunesi and Dumigan have caused many issues for residents in Burnley for a number of months.

“We have tried various measures to bring an end to the problems they have been causing and it is felt an ASBO is a further way we can use to address their behaviour.

“I hope this action reassures residents that we do act on their concerns.

“We are committed to making sure Burnley is not blighted by this type of behaviour and we will continue to use tactics such as ASBOs to rid our community of such nuisance.”

Solicitors representing Dumigan and Tunesi will contest the ASBO when and application is made for a full order on February 15.