A ONE-MAN crimewave was responsible for five per cent of the crime in Longridge and surrounding area in the past 12 months, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Nathan James Redmond had stolen thousands of pounds worth of property from cars, sheds and garages and caused thousands of pounds worth of damage in the process.

And a district judge agreed to impose an anti-social behaviour order on the 29-year-old offender which he said he hoped would provide a degree of protection for the people of Longridge.

"Without doubt your behaviour in that tight knit community is so persistent that the people have been caused harassment, alarm and distress," said district judge Paul Firth.

"People should be able to leave their cars, sheds, garages and out outhouses locked and secure and come back to find them in the same condition. The residents of Longridge deserve a measure of protection from you."

Redmond, of Kestor Lane, Longridge, pleaded guilty to two offences of theft from cars and theft of £450 from a Nat West Bank cash machine using a card stolen from one of the vehicles.

He was also re-sentenced for two offences of theft of mobile phones from cars and burglary in a shed for which he had been given a community rehabilitation order in February and possession of heroin for which he was given a conditional discharge in March.

He was sent to prison for a total of eight months. Redmond also admitted four sets of driving document offences and was disqualified from driving for two years.

The anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) was made for three years. It bans Redmond from entering the Lower Lane and Mardale areas of Longridge.

Redmond is also banned from being outside his home address between 11 pm and 7 am in possession of any article which could reasonably be used for the commission of any offence.

Sergeant John Lindsey, who provided the court with information about Redmond's past and present behaviour, described him as a one man crimewave whose offending had been an especially prolific in the past 12 months.

"This measure is designed to protect the people of Longridge and the surrounding area," said Sergeant Lindsay.

Stephen Parker, defending, said Redmond had been brutally honest with the author of a pre-sentence report.

"It is fair to say he has decided it is time for him to be honest with himself as well," said Mr Parker.

Mr Parker said the honesty was perhaps the first step towards rehabilitation and submitted a letter Redmond had written while in prison on remand.