A prolific shoplifter who had been banned from entering shops in a town centre will appear before Magistrates again next month, for breaching her community behaviour order (CBO).

Maxine Tattersall was jailed for 18 weeks and handed a two-year CBO in July 2019 after she pleaded guilty to assaulting shop staff and stealing items from numerous businesses in Accrington.

The order banned her from entering any retail premises in the town identified on a designated map.

Over the weekend, police in Accrington applied to the courts after Tattersall was found to have breached the order.

A spokesperson for the police said: "On Tuesday March 3, officers have been informed that the female had entered one of the stores within the designated area thus breaching her community behaviour order.

"On Saturday March 14, local community police officers have located the female within Accrington town centre where she was duly arrested for the breach.

"The female was transported to Blackburn police custody, and officers have interviewed the female who admitted the breach.

"She was charged and bailed to appear before Blackburn Magistrates on Thursday April 2.

"Officers would like to thank the local business community for their assistance in providing comprehensive impact statements which assisted the officers in obtaining the CBO."