A TEENAGER has been told he could be jailed for five years if he is caught in a town centre after dark.

Magistrates gave the warning to persistent troublemaker Lee Finglass, 18, of Edleston Street, Accrington, as he became the fourth person in Hyndburn to be served with an antisocial-behaviour order.

And police today warned other troublemakers: "You could be next."

Finglass was described as a teenager who had caused distress to other people around Accrington. Since 1996, he had been involved in 26 offences relating to theft from cars, damage to property, burglary and theft, the court was told.

He was also a well-known troublemaker in Accrington town centre after dark, having committed various drunk and disorderly acts and been responsible for violence and threatening behaviour.

Issuing a three-year ban yesterday, magistrates took the unusual step of expanding the proposed exclusion area to include Cannon Street, which is the scene of a lot of weekend trouble for police. The road had initially been left off because it was the base for Finglass's solicitor, Graeme Parkinson. The ban runs from 6pm until 6am.

The chairman of the bench told Finglass: "If you breach these conditions, even once, you face spending up to five years in jail."

Sgt Mark Evans, of Accrington Police, said the order sent "the right message to other troublemakers."

Mr Parkinson said Finglass agreed to the order but needed daytime access to the careers shop, advice shop and job centre.