Prolific beggar sent to prison

Magistrates have lost patience with a Cambridge beggar, who repeatedly breached a court order, and jailed him for nearly a year.

Jason Allum, 37, was handed a criminal behaviour order (CBO) and suspended sentence for breaching another CBO in April but was arrested for breaching the current order on 4 August. 

The CBO forbids him from acting in an anti-social manner that is likely to cause a nuisance, disruption or annoyance to anyone within the confines of the M11, A14 and A11, as well as entering Cambridge city centre, unless attending probation appointments. 

On 5 August, after he had been released from custody at Parkside Police Station, Allum was seen approaching people and begging in Arbury Court. 

At about 10.20pm the same day, he was seen on CCTV in Trinity Street in the city centre.

In total, Allum broke his CBO eight times in six days, by either begging or being in the city centre.

He was arrested on Thursday (August 10) in Market Street after police were alerted by the public and CCTV operators.

On Friday (11 August) at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court, Allum, of Edgecombe, King’s Hedges, Cambridge, was jailed for 40 weeks, after pleading guilty to eight counts of breaching a criminal behaviour order.

PC Laura O’Flynn, from the Cambridge city centre neighbourhood policing team, said: “Allum is a thorn in the side of everyone who has to put up with his relentless and aggressive begging.

“I am glad he has faced justice because he should not be bothering people in Cambridge and he knows it.

“We are one agency among others trying to help him, including his housing provider, mental health worker, drug and alcohol support services and Probation.

“However, despite having the metal capacity to make a decision, he declines most of this help.

“We will continue to use all avenues available to stop Allum causing distress to people in Cambridge.”