A HOMELESS man has been banned from begging in England and Wales after repeatedly causing a nuisance in Blackburn, Clitheroe and Whalley.

Gavin Whalley, who uses on crutches to get around, has been barred from asking for money, food, cigarettes or alcohol for two years.

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The 42-year-old has also been forbidden from Clitheroe and Whalley town centres.

Mr Whalley received a criminal anti-social behaviour order (CRASBO) at Blackburn Magistrates Court after more than 50 complaints were made to police since 2012. It is believed he is the first person in East Lancashire to have been banned from begging anywhere in the country.

He was given a map of Clitheroe and Whalley with the areas he is banned from marked out.

In December last year, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped its application for a CRASBO against the 42-year-old after messages of support from well wishers.

At the time, his solicitor had told the court people had contacted his office offering to pay any fines or costs Whalley received.

The hearing was also told he came from a good family from Langho.

Instead he pleaded guilty to begging in Clitheroe and was fined.

He was also fined in 2012 along with five others as part of a crackdown in Blackburn.

Sgt David Simpson said: “This is not about the police picking on a poor guy with crutches for no reason.

“Mr Whalley had been offered help from various agencies many times over the last two years but he has refused every time.

“We hope that by going down this route that he will at least accept help and turn his situation around.

“We have received more than 50 complaints about him and they have been from a range of people.

“Some have complained about his actions while others have expressed their concern about his welfare.

“We are hoping that this CRASBO leads him to change his ways.

“It gives the police powers to deal with him if he breaks the order.

“This is as much about protecting the public as it is to try and help him.”

Kevin Horkin, who owns four businesses in Clitheroe, said: “The man in question has a nice personality.

“However, begging has a detrimental effect on trade in Clitheroe and Whalley.

“People have the right to walk down a high street and not be challenged or feel awkward.

“I do think that the condition banning him from the centre of Clitheroe and Whalley is over-zealous and a bit draconian.

“I would say that begging has the same negative effect on a town as so-called ‘chuggers’ do.”

Tony Duckworth, president of Blackburn and District Chamber of Trade, said: “Some of our members are troubled by the people who loiter and this also relates to beggars.

“It can intimidate staff, deter potential customers and portrays the town in a bad light.

“There is no reason for people to be begging on the street as there are places for them to go and seek help.

“Our members are aware of habitual people that go from town to town and they are a nuisance.

“It’s a sorry state of affairs that it has come to this however.”

Coun Terry Hill, who represents Whalley on Ribble Valley Council, said: “I do not believe that the condition to ban him from the centre of the village is too harsh.

“The court would have taken into account all of the evidence which included him upsetting people.

“I know that a number of people complained to the police but they had difficulty doing anything about it as it’s not illegal for people to sit on the floor in public places.

“It’s very rare that we have people begging in Whalley.”

Breach of a CRASBO is a criminal offence with a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment for an adult.