Shoplifter stole hours after leaving court
A PROLIFIC Accrington shoplifter will face Christmas behind bars for stealing just hours after leaving court.
Daniel Doherty was initially arrested and charged on November 22 with 26 shoplifting offences which he committed in Accrington Town Centre.
He was remanded in police custody and appeared at court where he was given an 18 week suspended sentence.
Doherty was also banned from entering the town centre and other retail outlets after being granted a criminal behaviour order.
On Monday, November 25), he was released from court and within two hours he went on to shoplift items from the Thrifty’s store on Union Road in Oswaldtwistle.
Hyndburn Neighbourhood Policing team officers then tried to trace Doherty and he was arrested in Rishton on Wednesday, November 27.
Appearing in the local magistrates court again, Doherty was handed a 22-week prison sentence.
PS Corbett of the Hyndburn Neighbourhood policing team said: “Doherty clearly has no regard for the law and took it upon himself to shoplift within two hours of being released by the courts.
“Although it is very frustrating that he was released in the first place I am satisfied that the appropriate punishment has finally been offered to this individual.
“We will now concentrate our efforts locally to target others who feel the need to act in a similar fashion, hopefully the stores and store workers in Accrington will finally find some reassurance that Doherty is off our streets.”