A man from Chorley has been banned from the town centre after ‘threatening shop workers’.

Paul Watson, of Park Road, appeared at Preston Crown Court, on September 5.

Watson is described as a “prolific shoplifter” after causing harassment alarm and distress to shop workers using threats of violence.

He has been told not to enter any Tesco, Morrisons, or Asda store in Lancashire. He has also been told not to enter Chorley town centre. This order is in place for five years.

He has been sent to prison for 18 weeks.

A police spokesperson said: “Watson has been a prolific shoplifter in Chorley causing harassment alarm and distress to shop workers using threats of violence.

"We want to send out a strong message that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated and will be dealt with.

“The criminal behaviour order has been served on Watson for five years and the conditions are not to enter any Tesco, Morrisons, or Asda store in Lancashire and not to enter Chorley town centre.

“We encourage anyone to report breaches of the criminal behaviour order. Any prolific shoplifters will be dealt with in the same manner and the local neighbourhood team will be applying for criminal behaviour orders with strict conditions as part of Operation Vulture.”