A nuisance beggar who targeted shoppers and businesses has been jailed after breaching a banning order.
Earlier this year, Teesside Magistrates heard how Ivan Demani would knock on the windows of parked cars at Morrisons in Berwick Hills, Middlesbrough, and nearby Norfolk Shops and ask for money.
The 28-year-old, of Pallister Park, was also known to knock on the doors of residential properties asking for money.
His offending covered the Berwick Hills, Pallister Park and North Ormesby areas of East Middlesbrough and on Parliament Road in the town centre.
Despite numerous attempts to assist from Middlesbrough Council and other agencies, Demani failed to engage with any of the support on offer, the court heard.
At a court hearing in May he was made the subject of a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) banning him from asking for money or goods from any person within the borough of Middlesbrough.
He was also barred from obstructing the highway outside any business or nearby cash machine anywhere in the borough.
Following numerous breaches of his CBO, mostly in the North Ormesby area, Demani was returned to court this week where he was jailed for a total of 46 weeks.
Councillor Janet Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for community safety, said: “This sort of begging and harassment is completely unacceptable and we won’t tolerate it.
“We and our partners have done our best to offer support and will continue to do so, but where that is rejected this sort of enforcement is unavoidable.
“I’m grateful to the court for supporting our stance, and to members of the public and shop staff for reporting these incidents to the police.”
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Inspector Darren Birkett from Middlesbrough’s Neighbourhood Policing Team added: “We will continue to work closely with the council to make Middlesbrough a safe and enjoyable place to be for everyone.
“Our officers are out and about conducting regular patrols in the town centre so please approach them and speak with them about any concerns you have.
“If you wish to report an incident to us, you can do so on our website or by calling 101.”
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