Men banned from towns for intimidation

TWO beggars who aggressively pestered elderly people for cash have been banned from entering parts of North Tyneside.

Colin Martin, 30, and Crystan Lee Wilson, 23, will face immediate arrest if they go to Whitley Bay and North Shields town centres, or parts of Tynemouth, after their “aggressive begging” left some people “extremely frightened”.

North Tyneside Council and Northumbria Police said they took the decision to prosecute the pair after they caused months of misery and intimidation.

Council barrister Peter Rowbottom told North Tyneside County Court that both had particularly picked on elderly people.

He said police had used a “full range” of powers to try to control them, including dispersal orders and criminal behaviour orders, and had turned to the banning order when these had not curbed their offending.

Neither of the pair, who are said to be of no fixed abode, but not homeless, were present at the hearing.

Colin Boxshall of North Tyneside Council said: “These men are responsible for numerous incidents of antisocial behaviour and, on occasions, leaving members of the public extremely frightened. We hope these civil injunctions will act as a serious deterrent.

“The council continues to work closely with the police and charities to make sure people who are genuinely homeless receive support.”