AN early morning market hall raider with almost 60 previous convictions has been spared jail.
Burnley magistrates heard Peter Johnson was found, with an accomplice, crouched down by a stall in Burnley market hall around 7am.
The other man ran off but the defendant told a staff member he had done nothing and had gone there for a table.
Mercedah Jabbari, prosecuting, told the court the staff member blocked Johnson's path when he started to go towards the exit and the defendant told him he was going to do him for assault.
Johnson, described as a success story by his solicitor, was given 180 hours community punishment.
The defendant, of Thompson Street, Padiham, admitted burglary last October and failing to surrender.
Miss Jabbari said Johnson insulted the market worker and his colleague but police arrived and he was arrested.
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