A SERIAL shoplifter who assaulted a store detective when he tried to recover stolen property has been jailed.

Blackburn magistrates also imposed a Criminal Behaviour Order on Colin Andrew Bray which bans him from a number of shops for the next two years.

Bray, 35, of Livingstone Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to five charges if shoplifting and one of assault. He was jailed for 16 weeks. The Criminal Behaviour Order bans him from entering any Boots, Homebase, Tesco or Nisa stores for two years.

Graeme Tindall, prosecuting, said the assault was on a member of staff at Nisa who tried to stop him leaving.

On other occasions he barged a member of staff and pushed a customer, who had a child with her, at Tesco and collided with members of the public while trying to make good his escape from Boots.

Mr Tindall said as a result of the latest offences Bray had been recalled on prison licence.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said one of his client's main problems when he was released from prison was a lack of accommodation.

"He accepts he is the author of his own misfortunes," said Mr Taylor.

"He ended up owing money to certain individuals and that is why he engaged in this behaviour."