A beggar who befriended elderly people in Ramsey and then pestered them for money has been hit with an Asbo.

Tony Woodward, 31, of no fixed abode, was handed a five-year anti-social behaviour order at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Friday (December 6).

PC Dean Drage, who applied for the order, said: “He usually befriends them by offering to do work or carry heavy shopping and when he finds out where they live he will continue to harass them for money.

“He has also joined groups with mainly elderly and vulnerable members, such as church groups, and has been a nuisance to local shops, especially small businesses, cafes, and charity shops, so he can meet elderly people and pester them for money.

“He has been asked not to return to many of these premises but ignores the requests.”

Woodward has been banned from:

1. Stopping people in the street, who are not members of his immediate family, and asking them for money.

2. Knocking on any residential door or entering any gardens and asking the occupants for money.

3. Entering any shop or business in Ramsey, which he has previously been asked not to return to or been asked to leave by the management or their representatives.

4. Engaging in conduct which causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to other residents of Ramsey and the surrounding area.

PC Drage used evidence from a six-month period although some victims felt intimidated and were reluctant to give evidence.

A lot of the evidence was supplied by the Ramsey PCSO team and PC Drage worked closely with the Ramsey and Bury Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator.