Prolific and 'aggressive' beggar jailed

Earl Allen, 52, has been jailed for four weeks after breaching a court order

An "aggressive" and prolific beggar has been jailed for breaching a court order not to ask people for money.

Earl Allen, 52, was arrested on 9 May after neighbourhood officers on patrol spotted him in Long Causeway in Peterborough city centre.

He was seen approaching a woman sitting on a bench who gave him money.

He was arrested on suspicion of breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) after he was found with cash in his hand.

A two-year CBO was imposed in August 2022 after Allen's behaviour became a nuisance to members of the public, police said.

The order stated he could not approach anyone with the intention of asking for money or any other object, place or hold any item in front or near to himself in such a manner as to attract passers-by to place money in it - or cause any anti-social behaviour as defined by harassment, alarm or distress in a public place.

Allen, of London Road, Fletton, appeared before magistrates in Cambridge on 10 May, and was sentenced to four weeks in prison after admitting breaching the order.

PC Tom Maltby, of Cambridgeshire Police, said: “There have been countless interventions from both police and partner agencies to support Allen and deter his behaviour which is having an impact on our communities, primarily members of the public frequenting the city centre."

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