A NOTORIOUS drunk who has been banned from supermarkets and retail parks in Burnley town centre has been hauled before the courts yet again – this time for being round the back of Asda in the early hours.

Paul Manley, 47, is banned from the area by an anti-social behaviour order, but, the town's magistrates were told, ended up being locked up for the sake of a cigarette. He had come into some cash, was hungry, had eaten a pizza and wanted a smoke afterwards.

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Manley, a chronic alcoholic for about a decade, has repeatedly flouted the ASBO, which is meant to keep him away from Burnley retails parks. It was imposed because he would go into stores intoxicated and harass the public for money or busk.

The town’s magistrates were told a security guard at Asda rang police, saying Manley had been trying to get into the store by the staff entrance at about 3am. But the defendant, who is barred from the premises as well, claimed that wasn’t true and he was in the car park where some workmen had given him a cigarette.

Manley, of Forest Street, Burnley, admitted breaching the two-year ASBO, imposed in January, by being at the rear of Asda, on October 1.

The jobless defendant, who is not on benefits, was fined £70, with a £15 victim surcharge and was detained in the precincts of the court until lunchtime in lieu of payment.

David Leach, for Manley, said the defendant would say he wasn't trying to get in Asda. He had been given £20.

His benefits had been revoked after he was released from jail about 18 months ago and they had never been reinstated. Manley had since lived on the generosity of his family and members of the public.

Mr Leach said Manley had got a pizza from Dominos at 1.30am, keeping out of the area he was banned from by skirting around the ring road. He then walked a short distance to Stoneyholme to an all-night shop for some cigarettes, but it was closed. Manley was walking back, saw some workmen at Asda and went on to the car park.

The solicitor continued: “He was passing, he wanted cigarettes and offered to buy some off the workmen. They gave him one. He accepts he took a seat in that particular area before walking home.”

Mr Leach added: “He’s made progress to a degree. The probation service won’t touch him with a barge pole. They know he is difficult to manage.”