A MAN who took a shortcut home to save 20 minutes ended up spending 20 hours in a police cell.

Blackburn magistrates heard Thomas James Ferguson time saving route put him inside an exclusion zone imposed as part of a criminal behaviour order.

Ferguson, 31, of Pump Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to breaching the order. He was remanded on bail until October 15 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Malcolm Isherwood, prosecuting, said the criminal behaviour order was put in place in July and there had already been breaches on September 7 and 8.

An officer who saw Ferguson walking from Clayton Street onto Heaton Street knew he was subject to the order and should not have been in the area.

Gareth Price, defending, said there was no suggestion his client was drunk or causing problems for anyone else.

"He made a foolish decision to take a short cut home which took him through the area from which he was excluded," said Mr Price.

"Saving 20 minutes has cost him 20 hours because he has spent a night in police cells."