A COURT hearing to consider imposing an Anti-social Behaviour Order on a shoplifter had to be cancelled because the defendant had broken his leg running away from the police.

Andrew David Harvey, 41, was meant to appear at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court yesterday for the ASBO hearing.

The order was being sought due to Harvey's record of numerous shoplifting offences and threats to shopkeepers.

When he failed to appear, his solicitor Keith Blackwell said he had just spoken to Harvey's partner and she said he was on his way to court.

But shortly afterwards, the court received a note saying Harvey had been in touch to say he had broken his leg the previous week, was "in agony" and was on his way to a doctor's appointment.

Magistrates were told that Harvey, of Wilson Road, Wyke, broke his ankle while fleeing from police on June 7.

Mr Blackwell said: "He says he is still in substantial pain and can't walk."

Yesterday was the fifth time the case had been listed. Harvey failed to attend the previous two hearings.

Chairman of the bench Alice Brett adjourned the hearing to September 1, the next available date, and said Harvey would have to bring medical evidence as to why he was unable to attend yesterday.

She said: "I am not happy about the long delays in this case, there has been so much wasted court time."