A SERIAL shoplifter has become the first person in Bolton to be given a so-called CRIMBO - banning him from every Co-op in Bolton and a long list of other stores.

Charlie Brown was given the criminal behaviour order — also known as a CRIMBO — after he threatened a Co-op worker and stole from two other shops.

The new stronger order has replaced the criminal ASBO — which police say was not as useful in "managing criminality".

Brown was jailed for 12 weeks for his latest spree — but when he is released from prison he will be banned from a host of Bolton stores including Boots and the Market Place in the town centre, The Late Shop and Tesco Express in Wigan Road, Deane, and every Co-op in Bolton.

Brown is only the second offender in Greater Manchester to be given a CRIMBO.

The order means police will be able to re-arrest the shoplifter even if he so much as steps foot in one of the stores from which he is banned.

Sgt Kevin Day said: " We were really pleased to get the first criminal behaviour order in Bolton.

"We were hoping to be the first in Greater Manchester but one had already been given out in Tameside.

"This new power will help us control the offending behaviour of criminals.

"Criminal ASBOs were not as useful as they could only be used if the same offence had been carried out a lot in a short period.

"The criteria were a lot more strict but now we can use these more regularly to manage criminality.

"And if offenders breach the order, it will stay on their criminal records, which should be a strong deterrent."

CRIMBOs only came into effect three weeks ago.

Officers applied for the order when Brown appeared at Bolton Magistrates Court on November 19.

He was jailed for 12 weeks, after pleading guilty to two counts of shoplifting and a charge of threatening behaviour.

He stole £20 of dairy products from a Spar shop on October 12 and threatened a female Co-op worker on the same day.

Just two weeks later, he struck at The Late Shop stealing £58 of meat.

When he is released from prison he will be banned from all the stores listed on the order for the next two years.

Sgt Day added: "Brown is a prolific shoplifter and one of those people who keeps going to court.

"We thought let's have a different approach at dealing with this guy.

"When he comes out of prison, all the stores in the order will know who he is."