Homeless man fined for begging and sleeping in the city centre

Such decisions have been branded as "meaningless prosecutions"



A homeless man who was caught begging and sleeping in the city centre despite being banned from doing so has been fined.

Ian Dawkins has been slapped with a £100 court bill after breaching a criminal behaviour order 13 times in the space of just over a month.

The 54-year-old pleaded guilty at Coventry Magistrates' Court with his offences including begging in streets such as Market Way, Broadgate, Spon Street and High Street, sleeping in Hertford Street and entering Sainsbury's.

Dawkins, of no fixed address, was fined £15 and made to pay a £85 victim surcharge, as well as being handed a community order with a rehabilitation activity requirement.

Bosses at Centrepoint, a charity that provides accommodation and support to homeless people, is totally against the idea of giving someone living on the streets a financial penalty.

Paul Noblet, head of public affairs for Centrepoint, said: "Anyone genuinely in need on the streets of Coventry should not be criminalised or given fines they simply can't pay.

"Including rehabilitation activity in the community order is a step in the right direction, but support to overcome substance addiction or mental health problems has to be sustained to make a long-term difference.

"Meaningless prosecutions like this will do nothing to help vulnerable people or reassure any concerned shoppers, residents and local businesses."

It is pointless fining him. All that will happen is that eventually he'll be locked up (at great expense) for not paying the fines.

We are criminalising being poor. This is a very dangerous path (IMO) to take.

We are criminalising being poor. This is a very dangerous path (IMO) to take.

I fully agree with you Rebbonk on that.