A THIEF who is banned from Bolton town centre stores has been jailed for six months after she was caught breaching a criminal behaviour order for the 13th time and stole gift sets from Boots.

Wigan magistrates told Amadine Webster: "The shopkeepers who are trying to run legitimate businesses, particularly at this time, deserve to be protected from your actions.

"It is abundantly clear that you will continue to offend unless the court takes strong action against you.

The court heard that the criminal behaviour order had been made on January 30 last year but in the latest breach Webster, aged 36, of Heywood Gardens, Bolton, stole goods worth £106 from Boots in Mealhouse Lane on August 26 and also endered the Redd clothing store in Victoria Square.

"According to your interview you said that the thought that the order had ended. Even if that had been the case, and it clearly isn’t, you still took the opportunity to continue your depredations of the retail shop owners in Bolton," Webster was told.

In addition to the jail sentence Webster, who pleaded guilty to committing the offences, was ordered to pay a £128 victim surcharge.