Beggar banned from begging

A prolific and persistent aggressive beggar has been issued with a court order banning him from begging or loitering around cash machines or shop doorways.

Alexander Patterson was given the Criminal Behaviour Order in November after Hastings Borough Council applied to local magistrates. His threatening behaviour was an almost daily occurrence in the town centre. Breaching the order would put Patterson in contempt of court and could lead to a prison sentence.

Over a three-month period, the council prosecuted 15 incidents involving Patterson and many more were logged by the local business community.

Cllr Judy Rogers, lead councillor for community safety, said: "This is a good result for everyone who visits the town centre. I'd like to thank the council officers for their hard work and persistence in getting this prosecution. However, there is still much more to be done to ensure people feel safe visiting our town and we continue to work with partners in the police and the business community to make further improvements."

Inspector Aidan Cornwall of the Hastings Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "Sussex Police received numerous complaints from members of the public who had suffered verbal abuse at the hands of Patterson for refusing to give him money. I am glad that the courts have supported Hastings Borough Council in obtaining this order and creating very real consequences should he continue to behave in this way."

John Bownas, manager of Love Hastings and the local Business Crime Reduction Partnership, said: "I really want to thank the council, the police, and the courts for issuing Patterson with this order. He was single-handedly making the town into a no-go zone for people who were regularly accosted by him, and I now hope that he will change his behaviour and comply with the court ruling."