A HOMELESS man banned from begging in England and Wales after repeatedly causing a nuisance in Blackburn, Clitheroe and Whalley has appeared in court charged with breaching the order.

Gavin Whalley, 42, of no fixed address, was remanded on bail until Wednesday, January 21 by Blackburn magistrates charged with three breaches of an anti-social behaviour order by begging in Blackburn town centre.

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Mr Whalley, who uses crutches to get around, was barred in September last year from asking for money, food, cigarettes or alcohol for two years.

He was also forbidden from entering Clitheroe and Whalley town centres.

He received a criminal anti-social behaviour order (Crasbo) at Blackburn Magistrates Court after more than 50 complaints were made to police from 2012.

At the time it was believed he was 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 marked with the area he is banned from.

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

Blackburn with Darwen councillor Hussain Akhtar said: “We have a problem with homeless people in Blackburn and it seems to be growing. We are trying to do something about it and that’s why we have projects like the foodbank. It’s our duty to look after these people but we need to do more. It’s an issue that should be addressed more and we can’t let it get out of hand.

“We should have more things in place to help people who are homeless and help them get their lives back on track.

“It’s not an acceptable situation for the town centre of Blackburn.

“It’s projects like the foodbank that can make all the difference in many cases and more schemes aimed at helping people in difficult circumstances should be established in the area.

“Mr Whalley has become a well-known figure in the centre of Blackburn and more should have been done a long time ago to help him.”