Police said there had been several complaints about Manion

Andrew Manion, of Broom Lane, Levenshulme, has been banned from begging in the city centre for the next two years.

The 41-year-old had admitted begging at the city's magistrates court on 24 October.

The Asbo, which was granted on Friday, bans him from begging or committing any anti-social behaviour, in the city centre or anywhere else in England and Wales.

It followed complaints from members of the public that Manion was intimidating them.

Every time someone gives a pound to a beggar they help continue this cycle Judith Walmsley, Greater Manchester Police

Greater Manchester Police also called on people to stop giving money to beggars, saying it continued their cycle of homelessness and drug addiction.

Judith Walmsley, from the force's homeless unit, said: "Manion is a prolific beggar who regularly operates in and around the Kendall's car park and nearby cash machines.

"We have had a large number of complaints from members of the public who say he is intimidating and we hope today's Asbo will prevent him from continuing to beg in the city centre."

She added: "We know the majority of people who beg in Manchester do so to maintain a drug habit.

"Many suffer from poor health and have a chaotic lifestyle, living from hour to hour, for the next bag of heroin.

Secure boxes

"Every time someone gives a pound to a beggar they help continue this cycle.

"It is not our intention to drive people off the street and into prison, our intention is to offer choices."

She added beggars were encouraged into addiction treatment programmes when their health showed signs of deteriorating.

Secure boxes were also located around the city centre where people could donate money which would go to charities which helped beggars overcome their problems, she said.