A 33-year-old man was locked up — for touching a car with his backside.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Daniel David Fletcher was subject to an anti-social behaviour order which prohibited him from even touching a car.

He was arrested when police saw him leaning against a silver Audi.

They thought he was planning to steal a laptop computer from the back seat but Fletcher said he was just rolling a cigarette.

Fletcher, of Snape Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to breaching an anti-social behaviour order. He was committed in custody to Preston Crown Court for sentence.

Aftab Bakhat, defending, said a police officer driving past at 5pm thought that Fletcher was acting in a ‘furtive manner’.

“She didn’t do anything at that time and in fact returned to the police station,” said Mr Bakhat. “When she went back out on patrol she saw him leaning against a car.

“His backside was touching the car and that is the extent of his crime.

“You may feel you are able to deal with this strictly on its merits.”

Fletcher was given the two-year ASBO earlier this year after a court was told he had 143 crimes on his record.

As a result of his persistent previous offences of theft from cars, vehicle interference and unauthorised takings, magistrates imposed five restrictions.

These banned him from being in a public place between 10pm and 7am, being in possession of tools which could be used to break into a car, including a screwdriver, spark plug, hammer, crowbar, jemmy, or any sharply pointed article.

He was also banned from entering or touching any vehicle unless he was a paying passenger or had the owner’s consent and was told he could not enter any car park or alleyway in Blackburn with Darwen.