A BEGGAR has been banned by police from approaching people in Oxford and asking them for money, food or cigarettes.

David Bowley, 26 of no fixed abode, was issued with a criminal behaviour order on Tuesday.

Bowley is now banned from begging or asking any person for money or goods in Oxford as bounded by the Oxford ring road.

He is also banned from sitting or lying on the ground, sitting on seating in a street or highway, or at an entrance to any commercial building in the city.

Bowley must also stay in touch with the Mayday Trust, an organisation that specialises in transition services for people facing challenging life transitions, to make sure they receive opportunities to find somewhere to live.

The order will last for two years and was put in place due to Bowley’s persistent begging.