A DUNDEE shoplifter was yesterday officially barred from entering 70 shops across Dundee for two years, after Sheriff Hughes granted an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) against her.

Nicola Walker (24), Luther Place, a persistent shoplifter, will now be unable to enter the premises of any member of the Dundee Co-ordinated Anti-crime Network (DUNCAN).

The order was granted despite Ms Walker’s absence from court and she was also not represented at the hearing. The order also applies to her committing or attempting to commit theft by shoplifting anywhere within the city.

An interim order was granted at the sheriff court last month, the first such order granted to the DUNCAN project since it was established in 2003 with funding from the Scottish Executive.

The premises involved are in the city centre, Kingsway West Retail Park and Lochee.

It effectively means that if Walker breaches the order by entering any of the 70 DUNCAN member businesses she will be immediately arrested and will appear before a sheriff.

Although two other shoplifters in Scotland have previously been made the subject of ASBOs, the order is the first of its kind north of the Border to ban the subject from specifically named premises.

Dundee City Council economic development convener Councillor Joe Morrow said, “Dundee is no different to any other area as far as shopping crime is concerned but the DUNCAN scheme exists as part of a real determination to deal with it.”