A WOMAN who had been ordered out of a number of Burnley town centre stores because she was suspected of shoplifting "kicked off" when police officers sent for a van saying they were going to lock her up.

But when she appeared at Blackburn magistrates in custody Cheryl Cheetham had a change of heart.

"She has asked me to get her sent to prison and I have had to let her down," said Richard Prew.

"She is charged with being drunk and disorderly and that is a none imprisonable offence. She knows she is drinking herself to death and wanted to go to prison to dry out."

Cheetham, 40, of Norfolk Grove, Church, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in St James Street.

She was fined £30 with £32 victim surcharge.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said the town centre CCTV monitor contacted police about a suspected shoplifter who had already been removed from a number of stores.