AN 18-YEAR-OLD Clitheroe girl who carried out unprovoked assaults on five complete strangers has been allowed to walk free from court.

Magistrates sitting in Blackburn described her as a "persistent offender who appeared to have no regard whatsoever for the feelings or the possessions of other people."

The magistrates heard a catalogue of criminal behaviour by Rachel Linford which has prompted police to apply for a second Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) against her.

The court was also told that she had numerous previous convictions for violence and had previously served a custodial sentence.

She admitting five assaults, resisting a police officer, damaging three cars, damaging a fence, failing to surrender to bail and asking for six offences of damaging cars to be taken into consideration.

And she was made subject to a supervision order for two years and a 6pm to 8am curfew seven days a week for the next four months. She was also ordered to pay £335 compensation to her victims.

Gareth Price, defending, said that Linford had been remanded in custody for two weeks and he thought there was a glimmer of hope after she had seen the prison psychiatrist.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the first assault in May was on a 16-year-old girl on her way to drama class.

She was approached by a male and Linford, who was carrying a glass beer bottle. Linford said she was lucky she had not "bottled" her and then they began to spit in her face.

Half an hour later a 13-year-old girl got off the bus and was hit twice in the face.

Later the same month a 14-year-old girl was walking down Henthorn Road with her boyfriend when they became involved with a group of teenagers. There was an altercation and Linford started hitting the girl. about the head.

The damaged cars were parked on Greenacre Street garage. The other criminal damage was linked to assaults on company director Andrew Chatburn and his brother Edward.