A nuisance beggar who plagued Middlesbrough shoppers and businesses has been hit with a powerful court banning order.
Teesside Magistrates heard how Ivan Demani would knock on the windows of parked cars at Morrisons in Berwick Hills and nearby Norfolk Shops and ask for money.
Demani, of Pallister Park, was also known to knock on the doors of residential properties asking for money.
His offending has been mainly in the Berwick Hills, Pallister Park and North Ormesby areas of East Middlesbrough and on Parliament Road in the town centre.
The 28-year-old has been offered assistance on numerous occasions but has failed to engage with any of the support on offer.
He was subsequently issued with a Community Protection Notice (CPN) and later with a Fixed Penalty Notice which he failed to pay.
At a hearing at Teesside Magistrates on Tuesday, Demani was fined £250 with a £90 victim surcharge for breaching his CPN, and made the subject of two-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).
Under the CBO Demani is banned from asking for money or goods from any person within the borough of Middlesbrough.
He is also barred from obstructing the highway outside any business or nearby cash machine anywhere in the borough.
Councillor Janet Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive member for Community Safety, said: “Residents and visitors to our town have an absolute right to do so free from begging and harassment.
“This sort of behaviour will deter people from enjoying shopping and leisure opportunities and we won’t tolerate it.
“Enforcement of this kind is always a last resort and only comes after all other avenues have been exhausted.
“I would still urge this individual to engage with the support we and our partners can offer him.”