A MAN banned from shops in Accrington town centre under a criminal behaviour order forgot about the exclusion.

Blackburn magistrates heard 66-year-old John Crabtree suffered from a severe memory problem and the probation service was having to adopt special measures to remind him of his appointments.

But the court was told there had been a dramatic development in Crabtree's life which gave him hope for the future.

Richard Prew, defending, said he had not known that his client had a farming background.

"He has found a part-time job driving a tractor for an old school friend and for the first time in a long time things appear to be going well for him," said Mr Prew.

"He has moved out of Accrington which takes him away from the criminal behaviour order. He just needs to get through to May when the order finishes."

Crabtree, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to breaching the criminal behaviour order by entering Aldi in Accrington and trespassing on the railway at Blackburn station.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 20 days rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to pay £90 victim surcharge.

Philippa White, prosecuting, said the railway trespass on May 13 involved Crabtree walking across the tracks at Blackburn station.

Transport police were called and found Crabtree sitting in a waiting room.

"He fully admitted that it was illegal and dangerous to cross the lines where he did," said Mrs White.

She said the criminal behaviour order had been imposed in May 2018 as a result of repeated shoplifting offences.

It banned Crabtree from entering shops in Accrington town centre.

She said there had been numerous breaches, some leading to prison sentences.

In May Crabtree had entered Aldi but left without incident.

"The policed were informed and he was found in a nearby public house," said Mrs White.

"He said he had forgotten about the order due to his health problems."

The court was told by a probation officer that Crabtree needed reminding about his appointments with them because he kept forgetting.

He was now being called on the phone to remind him and an officer had actually collected him to bring him to court that morning.

Mr Prew said the memory problem had been a major issue when Crabtree was living in Accrington but the move to Blackburn had made things much better.