Plymouth beggar is banned from asking for money
AN AGGRESSIVE beggar who is believed to have targeted disabled and elderly people has been banned from asking strangers for money.
Anthony Fox had even led his victims to cash machines to fund his drink and drug habits, a court heard.
Plymouth magistrates gave Fox a wide-ranging Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) for five years.
The 50-year-old is banned from approaching any person in the city to ask for money and from using foul or abusive language.
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Fox, staying at the Salvation Army hostel in Devonport, is also not allowed to take illegal drugs nor be intoxicated in public. He has also been banned from using the streets as a toilet and has been prohibited from several areas, including the city centre.
Fox did not appear in court but contested the application for the order through his solicitor.
Dylan Sadler, for Plymouth City Council, said Fox's drug of choice was heroin – and said he also drank heavily. He added: "He constantly approaches various members of the public, vulnerable people such as disabled people, the elderly or lone females to beg money, presumably to fund his lifestyle. If they refuse, he becomes threatening." Mr Sadler added: "He grabbed one disabled man firmly by the arm and demanded money from him. He seems to almost groom his targets, picking on the elderly and the disabled."
Mr Sadler claimed another man had been led to a cash machine. He said Fox had refused help from the agencies which could assist him.
The ASBO also prevents Fox from going into private gardens without consent. It is also a criminal offence for him to loiter outside any commercial premises if asked to move by an employee or police.
6 Comments
by BIGDUKE999
Friday, January 25 2013, 10:31PM
“What a shame this type of( URBAN FOX HUNTING) is banned-He should be banished to WIDE RANGING DARTMOOR with his ASBO and then set the hounds of hell after him-HE WILL BE BEGGING THEN..”
by jaygeek1
Thursday, January 24 2013, 5:21PM
“Why no photo Herald ?”
by CharlieDodd
Thursday, January 24 2013, 2:51PM
“I bought a Big Issue last year to see what it was like and it's the biggest load of boring tripe i've ever seen”
by Nevman
Thursday, January 24 2013, 1:48PM
“I'd love to add chuggers to the list, but until the council wakes up to the fact that they're yet another nail in the coffin of the city centre, pulls its finger out and passes a byelaw, unfortunately their aggressive pestering is legal.”
by Titch89
Thursday, January 24 2013, 10:51AM
“You may want to add chuggers to that list, Nevman.”
by Nevman
Thursday, January 24 2013, 10:34AM
“Good. Now let's target some of the other aggressive panhandlers who seem to think that vulnerable people are a source of free money.
Let's give the order of the boot to the fake 'Big Issue seller' who always claims he's down to 'his' last copy before disappearing into the nearest off-licence, and the shouty idiot with the funny haircut who never strays far from the gambling arcade at the bottom of New George Street, for starters!”