Northamptonshire begging ban for persistent Corby street beggar Mark Weems
A 51-year-old Corby man has been issued with a two-year order that sees him banned from begging in the whole of Northamptonshire.
Mark Weems, of Dorking Walk, Corby, has 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.
Weems was made subject of the CBO following complaints to the Corby Neighbourhood Policing Team about his aggressive behaviour when begging.
Anti-social Behaviour Sergeant Grace Manwaring of Northamptonshire Police said: “Tackling and preventing anti-social behaviour remains a priority for the Force, which includes making our retail areas a safer space for everyone.
“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.
“By issuing details of the order along with his photograph, we can make shop workers and the public aware of the restrictions imposed and ask anyone who sees Weems breaking the terms of this CBO to report it immediately to us by calling 101 so we can take further action.”
His 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.
This criminal behaviour order states Weems must not:
• Enter Corby town centre and Willow Place Shopping Centre where he has already been given a banning notice from • Approach persons and ask 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 • Enter any premises which he is banned or excluded from within Northamptonshire • Remain on any premises when asked to leave by a member of staff or persons with authority to make such request within Northamptonshire.
If Weems fails to comply with the Criminal Behaviour Order, he risks being arrested and prosecuted further.
In 2017, Weems was handed a CBO prohibiting him from asking members of the public for money.
He was jailed for 10 weeks for breaching it in 2018 before being jailed for eight weeks the following year after pestering and harassing Kettering town centre shoppers.