A MAN who struck terror into shop staff has been banned from Morecambe town centre for five years.

Serial shoplifter Craig Daniel Ashcroft wreaked havoc throughout the town as he stole to feed his drug habit.

Some store staff became too frightened to go into the town in case they ran into Ashcroft, who often crawled into shops in an attempt to avoid security cameras.

Now police have got tough and the 29-year-old, pictured, has been hit with an anti-social behaviour order meaning he must behave until 2009 or face jail.

Ashcroft, of Pedder Street, is only allowed to go to his house via a certain route and is now banned from walking on one side of Broadway.

He must not enter the town centre other than via the specified route and is not allowed to take drugs or talk to a group of his friends.

"Staff were leaving their jobs in shops because of this man," says Lancashire police solicitor Sue McLane.

"He used to steal from shops to feed his drug habit and, although he had not been violent, a lot of staff were leaving their jobs because they felt intimidated by him.

"We also believe that some female shop staff wouldn't drink in Morecambe in case they ran into Ashcroft. That is a situation that cannot be allowed to happen."

She told the Citizen: "The order will give him an opportunity to prove he can behave himself and if he chooses not to obey it then that is a criminal offence and he will be dealt with accordingly.

"I understand that Ashcroft has a serious drug habit which he is trying to kick and we hope that this order will help him. It is a chance for him to change his ways, "The order is tough but there can be no sympathy for him because these problems are of his own making."

Inspector Jill Townley of Morecambe police says: "We are absolutely delighted with this order.

"Ashcroft has brought misery to the people of Morecambe for far too long and now they can finally have some respite. He has been responsible for so much crime and now we have put a stop to his actions.

"There is no doubt he has a lot of problems and we have tried to help him with those through various schemes. But he has thrown that help back in our faces and he just does not want to know. This was the only option left."

Under the terms of the tough antri-social behaviour order, Ashcroft, who can be sent to jail if he breaks any conditions, is not allowed to go into Morecambe, communicate with eight of his friends, cause harassment or incite anyone else to engage in anti-social behaviour.

He will also be locked up if he makes threats against anyone, damages any building or attempts to steal anything. Ashcroft is also banned from being drunk or on drugs in public.