Hockey's begging ban will last for two years

Drug addict Leonard Hockey, 51, of Salford, Greater Manchester, faces up to two years in jail for contempt of court if he is found begging in the city again.

The civil action was brought by Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Police.

Although begging is illegal it does not carry a jail sentence under the Vagrancy Act 1824. The 51-year-old begs to feed a �22,000 a year drug habit.

Police had been unable to seek an anti-social behaviour order against Mr Hockey as his behaviour is not violent or threatening.

Judge Richard Holman at Manchester County Court said he found Mr Hockey's activities "constitute a public nuisance".

We have always said that my client is not a public nuisance, he simply asks people for change Ben Taylor Mr Hockey's solicitor Charities condemn beggar ban

He said: "It is undeniably the case that begging is not regarded as socially acceptable.

"The fact is that it exists, it is intrusive and it conflicts with an entirely legitimate aim of providing a pleasant and welcoming environment in the city centre for the general population."

Judge Holman found that Mr Hockey's method of operation, which is to target car park pay stations, was relevant to his ruling.

"All the while, the beggar is there at the pay machine and it is very difficult to ignore him," he said.

"There is also the worry as to what may happen if you decline to give the beggar any money, since unhappily some beggars can be abusive or aggressive."

'Open flood gates'

The council went to court on 11 August to apply for an injunction, but the move was fought by Mr Hockey on Thursday, through Manchester solicitors Glaisyers.

The injunction will run for two years.

Mr Hockey's solicitor, Ben Taylor, said the ruling would open up further action against beggars.

He said: "This is not a blanket judgment but this will open the flood gates to other local authorities bringing injunctive proceedings against beggars."

Mr Taylor said his client was very disappointed by the ruling and he intended to advise him to take the case to the Court of Appeal.

He said: "Mr Hockey has no alternative but to beg. It is his only way of raising his income.

This sends the right message to people begging in the streets Councillor Basil Curley Manchester City Council

"We have always said that my client is not a public nuisance, he simply asks people for change."

Councillor Basil Curley, Manchester City Council's executive member for housing, said that the court proceedings against Mr Hockey were used as a "last resort".

He said: "This sends the right message to people begging in the streets.

"These people are not hungry or homeless. Over 90% of profits from begging goes to fund a drug habit."

Charities say locking beggars up is not the solution to their problems.

Shaks Ghosh, chief executive of homeless charity Crisis, said criminalising people living on the streets did not work and called for them to be provided with support services.

"Giving homeless people a criminal record worsens their situation, making it more difficult to find housing and jobs.

"Leonard Hockey's 97 arrests represent 97 opportunities for intervention and 97 failures."

Nick Harris of drug, alcohol and mental health charity Turning Point, told BBC News 24 that treatment was crucial in weaning people off drugs.

"That's got to be part of the solution, not just criminalisation on its own."