Aggressive Corby beggar with 'flagrant disregard for the law' jailed after breaching criminal behaviour order
An aggressive beggar from Corby has been jailed after breaching a criminal behaviour order, less than a month after he was told to stop his anti-social behaviour.
Mark Weems, of Dorking Walk, Corby, was sentenced to 52 weeks in prison after he pleaded guilty to breaching his criminal behaviour order on four occasions that had been issued by Northampton Magistrates Court last month (May 7).
The 51-year-old also had amphetamines found in his sock during his arrest, leading to him being charged with one count of possession of a Class B drug.
On Tuesday, June 2, Weems was arrested near his home on the Kingswood estate, following complaints from members of the public that he had been seen in the town centre on May 26, 28, 29 and June 1, approaching people for money.
A spokesman for Northants Police said: “He was subsequently charged with four breaches of his criminal behaviour order and one count of possession of a Class B drug (amphetamine), which was found in his sock during his arrest.
“Weems appeared at Northampton Magistrates Court on Wednesday (June 3), where he pleaded guilty to all five offences and due to his flagrant disregard for the law, he was handed the prison sentence and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and £187 victim surcharge.”
Weems had been issued with a two-year criminal behaviour order (CBO) following persistent anti-social behaviour and begging in Corby town centre.
The order was granted by Northampton Magistrates Court on May 7, following a successful application by Northamptonshire Police.
He was made subject of the order following complaints to the Corby Neighbourhood Policing Team about his aggressive behaviour when begging.
This behaviour included becoming aggressive and intimidating towards members of the public who declined to give him money as well as loitering around cash machines waiting for some of the most vulnerable members of the community to use them.
He also became verbally abusive when asked to move away from businesses and retailers, which caused further distress and alarm to those visiting and working in the town centre area.
The criminal behaviour order banned Weems from entering Corby town centre and Willow Place Shopping Centre where he had already been given a banning notice from.
He was also banned from approaching people and asking for money (including food, money or material goods) in any street, road, public place or place to which the public have access to within Northamptonshire.
Anti-social Behaviour Sergeant Grace Manwaring of Northamptonshire Police said: “Mark Weems is a prolific aggressive beggar, usually targeting the most vulnerable members of our community, and his persistent anti-social behaviour has had a detrimental impact on the daily lives of those who work or come to visit the town.”