A shoplifter already barred from more than 100 shops has now been banned from an entire town centre. Benedict Korentang, 40, was originally excluded from member shops and stores by the Northampton Retail Crime Initiative (NRCI).
The town's magistrates court heard that there has since been 42 incidents where Korentang continued to be abusive and threatening to store staff trying to enforce the exclusion order.
Now he has been sentenced to a two-year anti-social behaviour order (Asbo).
Korentang, 40, used to live in the Lumbertubs area of Northampton but has moved to Bedford to escape the restrictions imposed by the ban.
The order imposed on Korentang on Monday bans him from entering Northampton town centre.
He now has to abide by the original exclusion notice until 13 October, 2005.
On Tuesday, Police Constable Paul Valentine, of Northampton's retail and licensing team, said the Asbo sent out a clear message to offenders.
"This man was a menace. He had been excluded from all shops in the retail crime initiative for well over a year," he said.
Protect staff
"But this had no effect, and he continued to breach the notice again and again while being abusive to the shop staff who challenged him.
"This Asbo has sent out a very clear message to anyone else who continues to persist with this type of criminal activity in Northampton and thinks that the penalties will not apply to them.
"We will seek to use the full force of the law against them.
"The aim of the Asbo is to protect both shopfloor staff and visitors who come to shop in the town and we are pleased that the court has taken this important step in our bid to reduce retail crime."
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This man was a menace. He had been excluded from all shops in the retail crime initiative for well over a year 
