BLACKBURN’S ‘worst shoplifter’ has been banned from the town centre in a bid to halt the ‘one-man crimewave’.

Police said Michael Aspin, 34, had more than 200 convictions to his name.

He has now been put on an interim ASBO which bans him from entering Blackburn town centre and Darwen as well as being drunk in a public place or using abusive, threatening or insulting words or behaviour in public.

Police Constable Dave Hall said: “We have a huge issue with his stealing from shops in Blackburn. He persistently steals from the town centre, shopping centre, market and the Townsmoor retail park.

“We have now banned him from a very large area of the town centre and will not allow his offending behaviour to continue.

“In the town centre we have a number of people who cause us problems but in terms of levels of offending and the threats and aggression he uses he is the worst.”

He said that Aspin, whose latest address was given in Blackburn Magistrates' Court as King Street, Blackburn, became aggressive when stopped for shoplifting.

PC Hall said: “It is his attitude when challenged and the threats that he makes that are of concern. The order has been made to address his highly aggressive and threatening behaviour when he is shoplifting.”

Aspin was one of the first criminals in Lancashire to be given an ASBO in March 2001 because of his persistent shoplifting in the Accrington area.

Although initially set to last for three years it was extended to 2007, when he moved to Blackburn.

Now police said they were determined to stop his serial shoplifting once and for all by issuing him with his biggest ban to date.

PC Hall said: “His initial order was for three years but such was his utter contempt for it that it was extended for a total of six years and nine months.”

The court heard that Aspin had a long-standing heroin and alcohol problem. He has convictions for stealing items including jars of coffee, socks, a CD player and food and targeted a range of shops, including charity shops.

Lorraine Jones, the manager of The Mall shopping centre in Blackburn, welcomed the court action against Aspin.

She said: “He is a prolific shoplifter and it is good news that he has been given the ASBO.

“We are here to protect the retailers and there have been many incidents where he has been caught here.

“For him to be banned from the town centre is very good news and shows that we and the police do not tolerate that sort of behaviour.”