A notorious and persistent town centre beggar is back behind bars over numerous breaches of a powerful court order.
Bradley Grimes was banned last year from a large area of Middlesbrough after numerous attempts to help him ended in failure.
The 29-year-old has plagued town centre businesses and visitors over a number of years, and is frequently involved in confrontations with Middlesbrough Council neighbourhood safety wardens.
Last year the ‘obstructive and argumentative’ individual was made the subject of a civil injunction in an effort to curb his behaviour and help him find support and treatment.
Many attempts have been made to find Grimes – of no fixed abode - food and accommodation, as well as help to stop begging and address substance misuse issues.
He was even offered a role as a Big Issue seller, but his licence was revoked the following month for begging while selling the magazine.
He is also banned from verbally abusing Middlesbrough Council officers and staff, from begging in the town centre area and from threatening violence towards any person.
At a hearing at Teesside County Court – which Grimes refused to leave his cell to attend – he admitted breaching the order on 17 separate occasions in September and October last year.
Jailing him for 96 days Judge Mark Gargan praised Middlesbrough Council officers for their attempts help grimes, and urged them to continue those efforts.
Councillor Janet Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive member for Community Safety, said: “I’m pleased the court has recognised our officers’ ongoing attempts to find this individual the support and treatment he so clearly needs but refuses to accept.
“That work will continue, but we must also protect the interests of businesses and members of the public who have an absolute right to enjoy the town centre free from this sort of harassment and abuse.
“It’s unacceptable and inexcusable, and we will use every tool at our disposal to stamp it out.”