Town Centre pickpocket 'could face jail'

Caught: Anthony Holt was a repetitive town centre pickpocket

A compulsive pickpocket has been banned from entering the town centre after dipping into 16 pockets in the past year.

Anthony Holt, of Lower Falinge, whose criminal history includes over 100 offences, has been told he faces time behind bars if he does not comply with his court injunction, which has been obtained by Greater Manchester Police and Rochdale Town Centre Management.

The 39-year-old was convicted 16 times over the past 12 months – with 10 of these offences being committed in the town centre.
He has been banned from entering Rochdale and Bury town centres until December 2009.

Town centre manager Debbie O’Brien said: "This is a fantastic example of businesses working in real partnership. We knew that this prolific offender was causing the town centre no end of problems and got together to show how we could clamp down and really make a difference.

"This behaviour will not be tolerated in the town centre and we already have more targets in place”.