A Clitheroe woman who had breached anti-social behaviour orders on 15 previous occasions has been given a chance to break the cycle of offending.

Magistrates made Rachel Louise Linford subject to community supervision with a condition she lives at a specialist hostel in Liverpool.

And Basharat Ditta, defending, said Linford had already earned glowing reports from staff at the hostel were she has been living for several weeks. It seems the key to Rachel Linford is keeping her away from Clitheroe," said Mr Ditta.

Linford, formerly of Hodder Grove, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to two breaches of an Asbo and assaulting a police officer by spitting in his face.

Isla Chilton, prosecuting, said for a woman of Linford's age she had an "incredible number of convictions."

"She went to prison for breaching it in January 2006 and has been in and out of prison since then,"" said Mrs Chilton.

Mr Ditta said the Rachel Linford portrayed by the prosecution and the record bore no resemblance to the one the subject of reports from the probation service and the hostel in Liverpool.

"This could be the way to break the cycle and help both the people of Clitheroe and Rachel Linford," he added.