A petty thief has been banned from touching or using ANY vending machine for the next FIVE years.

Russell Stansfield, from Derker near Oldham, has a long history of petty thefts and was slapped with a Criminal Behavioural Order after his latest appearance in court.

He had been caught stealing money from a parking meter in Bury earlier this year and admitted having a history of committing similar offences.

The order means he cannot use coin-operated machines.

He is banned from touching food and beverage vending machines, banned from the Trafford Centre and its car parks and he has been told he is not to visit any airport or its car parks unless he can prove he is travelling somewhere.

Stansfield is also banned from using pay phones unless he is calling emergency services and if he is using the Metrolink, he must buy his ticket and move away from the machine.

The order and restrictions, handed out at Bury Magistrate's Court, are in place until February, 2020.

After the case he said: “It’s just weird if I’m honest, there are so many things I can’t do.

“If I’m at the hospital for hours for example I can’t buy any food from the machines.”

He also said the order could be a blessing.

“At least I have an excuse not to pay for things,” he joked.

“I think I might be the only person in the country with this bizarre restriction, maybe even the world.”

Despite being able to see the funny side, Stansfield, who is unemployed, has shown remorse for his crimes.

He said: “I am sorry for what I did. It was a means of survival.

“In Oldham there’s not a lot going for a lad like me.

"I was desperate. I was going through a tough time.”

The long list of what Russell Stansfield can't do

Touch, interfere or use a food or beverage machine

Visit the Trafford Centre and its car parks.

Visit any hospital or its car parks unless visiting a patient or being treated

Visit any airport or its car parks unless using it for travel in which case he needs proof

Touch, interfere or use a pay phone unless contacting the emergency services

Loiter near any public transport ticket machines unless buying a ticket in which case he needs to go up to the machine only once, buy the ticket and leave.