Notorious Wigan shoplifter back behind bars

Arthur McLean, 49, of Water Street, Wigan, appeared before borough magistrates to admit to being drunkenly threatening and abusive towards four people including a police officer after he was caught entering a Bargain Buys store on October 25 when barred from doing so due to previous thieving there.

One of the threats was also deemed to have been racially aggravated.

Sending him to prison for a total of eight weeks, the chair of the bench told him: “This was a flagrant disregard of a court order.

“You have displayed shocking behaviour whilst under the influence of alcohol towards a number of people or distress and the offence was racially aggravated within the terms of section carrying out their duties.

McLean was ordered to pay each of his victims £50 in compensation.

Last December McLean was sent to prison for a shoplifting spree, but no sooner was he released than he committed more thefts and was then given a community

sentence, which also included an alcohol treatment element.

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