A SHOPLIFTER who assaulted shop staff as she fled with stolen cosmetics and sports powders has been jailed.

Police said businesses are set to get a much-needed break from Maxine Tattersall, who has been given a criminal behaviour order which bans her from entering every shop in Accrington town centre for the next two years.

Blackburn magistrates also jailed 32-year-old Tattersall for 18 weeks.

Sgt Ian Corbett said: “Hyndburn neighbourhood policing team will not tolerate this kind of behaviour and this sentence should act as a deterrent to anyone planning on coming into the area to commit crime.

“What is particularly important in this case is the two-year criminal behaviour order handed to Tattersall with the conditions not to enter any retail premise within Accrington town centre. This will give business owners in the area some much-needed respite from Tattersall’s offending.”

Magistrates were told that on February 4, Tattersall, of Church Street, Accrington, stole cosmetics from Boots the Chemist in the town on February 4. As she left Tattersall was challenged by store employee Nazneen Ali, who the court heard the defendant assaulted as she barged her way out of the store.

The second assault happened at Holland and Barrett in the town on March 5. After employee Jacqueline Semple challenged Tattersall about stealing sports powder valued at £29.99, she was assaulted by the defendant as she forced her way out of the store.

In relation to Tattersall’s other offences which spanned five months, magistrates heard she stole women’s boots valued at £27.99 from Shoezone on New Year’s Eve, a pink radio and Adidas gift set valued at £9 from the Sense Charity Shop and No7 and Olay from Boots the Chemist on January 17. On January 22 Tattersall stole £24 of incense burners from Abdul Rehman and £70 of ladies razors from Boots the Chemist on January 26.

On February 2 Tattersall stile men’s safety boots valued at £24.99 from Shoezone, on April 19, Tattersall stole 18 cans of Stella valued at £10 from Asda and on May 9 she stole two bottles of vodka valued at £39.50 belonging to Tesco.

An allegation she stole £300 of cosmetics from Boots on January 12 was dismissed.

In total Tattersall pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and 12 theft offences.