AN 'argumentative' beggar who persistently hassled people at Worcester cash points and made a nuisance of himself at the Victorian Fayre is now banned from large parts of the city centre.

Andrew King, aged 48, of no fixed abode was made subject to a criminal behaviour order at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday because of his persistent anti-social behaviour in the city.

He could now go to jail if he breaches the terms of the order or enters the exclusion zone (see map).

Temporary policing sergeant Alexander Denny of West Mercia Police presented the order at court, stating it was ‘a last resort' following extensive efforts by many officers of the city and Cathedral Safer Neighbourhood Teams to engage with King and encourage him to address his problems.

T/Sgt Denny explained how he had liaised with St Paul’s Hostel to secure King accommodation which he refused.

He told the court that the order was 'necessary and proportionate' after police received complaints from residents and business owners alike who were harassed and distressed by King’s actions.

He also stated that King would become ‘obstructive and argumentative’ when asked to move on by police officers and had started shouting and had thrown a cup of tea against a wall during the busy Victorian Fayre. Police had politely asked him to move along from the Windsor Row footbridge.

T/Sgt Denny said: “Mr King would regularly place himself next to cash machines within Worcester City causing distress to persons attempting to use those machines especially at night.

“Mr King regularly leant against the front door to a dwelling on Foregate Street to beg causing the residents to step over him when leaving and returning home.

“This unnecessary and persistent behaviour caused avoidable distress for those residents and as such this order will grant some respite to the many persons affected by him.

“West Mercia Police have excellent working relationships with a wide variety of support agencies within Worcester City and regularly signpost people to support agencies for assistance.

“However, on occasions offers of support and advice are refused and people's anti-social behaviours continue and even escalate to the detriment of the community leaving West Mercia Safer Neighbourhood Teams no options other than enforcement to safeguard those affected."

The order will be in force until June 25, 2017.

It prohibits the defendant from begging or loitering or sitting in any place for the purpose of begging and/or asking people for money, from sitting/perching/crouching on the floor/pavement/doorway of any commercial premises or within 20 metres of it, from sitting or loitering within 20 metres of an Automated Telling Machine (ATM) other than for the purpose of properly using that ATM personally and from being in the area outside Tesco Express and Corals Bookmakers on the Foregate, Church Street, Winsor Row and the area as shown in the exclusion map.

Those affected by anti-social behaviour can report this via 101 the non-emergency number.