A PERSISTENT drunk and shoplifter has been banned from all shops in Blackwood for the next two years.

Rodney Glen Peplar, 47, is also barred from being drunk in public places in the town until August 8 2014, after being handed a Criminal Anti-Social Behaviour Order (CRASBO) by magistrates in Caerphilly.

Peplar, of Newbridge, can no longer enter any premises within Blackwood's High Street, except Messrs Patchell Davies solicitors and the Job Centre.

He is also prohibited from Blackwood bus station, Market Place and Blackwood Retail Park, and is not allowed to be drunk in any of these places.

If he breaches the order in any way he faces a jail sentence of up to five years.

Shop owners said he was notorious in the town. Whilst many said they had not had dealings with Peplar themselves, they were aware of the trouble he had caused and were glad of the ban.

Gwent Police applied for the order following a spate of crimes committed by Peplar.

This included drunkenness, offensive behaviour against passers-by, repeated counts of thefts and threatening behaviour and violence towards police officers.

Blackwood neighbourhood policing team Sergeant Neil Jones said: "Gwent Police made the application to offer protection to the residents, retailers and visitors to Blackwood from his persistent alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour and criminality.

"We are please that the court recognises his conduct has been intolerable and hope that the order will either lead Mr Peplar to curb his behaviour or that it will give officers the ability to robustly deal with any breaches."

Similar orders have been handed to repeat offenders in Newport and Cwmbran earlier this year.