A 26-YEAR-OLD man with a "horrendous" record for theft offences was seen stealing two bottles of vodka from the Co-operative store in Union Road, Oswaldtwistle.

Blackburn magistrates heard that although Michael James Aspin made good his escape he was well known to police because of his 109 previous convictions for offences of dishonesty.

Aspin, of Heys Lane, Oswaldtwistle, pleaded guilty to theft and was remanded on bail until February 13 for the preparation of pre-sentence reports which will be presented to Hyndburn magistrates.

Appearing with him Stephen Rimmer, 32, also of Heys Lane, pleaded guilty to attempted theft of a bottle of rum from the same shop.

He was fined £50 with £25 costs.

Graham Parkinson, defending, said Aspin's record was horrendous.

"At one stage he was offending almost on a daily basis and his life was a cycle of offending and custody," said Mr Parkinson.

"In recent times he does appear to be improving and that is largely due to him being able to find some decent accommodation after being released from his latest prison sentence."