AN ex-convict who spat in a security officer's face laughed and told him he had AIDS, a court was told.

Burnley Magistrates heard that Gavin James Thomas, 25, had pushed and pulled the officer as he was being put in a police van and told him he would 'be back for him'.

Thomas's solicitor told the bench he had been resentful because he had been suspected of shoplifting and was not happy at being arrested.

The defendant had 76 previous convictions for theft, the court was told.

Thomas, of Albert Street, Nelson, who also raided two derelict council properties looking for copper to sell for drugs cash, admitted common assault, theft, damage and burglary allegations. He was committed to Burnley Crown Court for sentence.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said the victim worked at Morrisons in Nelson.

Thomas was with another man who was arrested and when police arrived, the guard also pointed out the defendant.

Thomas became abusive, grabbed hold of the officer, pushed and pulled him and spat at him. The defendant had over 100 previous convictions.

Glen Smith, defending, told the court Thomas knew it was most likely he would be going back to prison.

The defendant had been resentful at the implication he had been involved in shoplifting at Morrisons and did not know that the other male had been stealing.

In the long term, Thomas would stop offending, Mr Smith claimed.

He said that in the last few months he had been trying not to get into trouble and attempting to keep company with people who were not on the fringes of that sort of behaviour. Thomas wanted to get away from crime but found it very difficult. He was suffering from depression because he was sick and tired of his lifestyle.

Mr Smith added in the long term, a community sentence might be better for society than sending Thomas back to jail.