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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Antony Thrower

'Britain's angriest beggar' who attacked people for refusing to give him cash is jailed

A beggar known as Britain’s angriest after attacking several people who refused to hand over money has been jailed.

Jason Allum, 36, was given a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) on March 2 preventing him from begging in Cambridge City Centre.

But within hours he was again seen asking for money and was handed a 28-day suspended sentence by Peterborough Magistrates' Court on March 13 for the breach.

Between March 13 and 31, he breached the CBO a further 20 times by asking people for money, including placing his hands on people, approaching women and children and shouting and swearing.

Earlier this month at Cambridge Magistrates' Court, Allum, was sentenced to seven months in prison, having pleaded guilty to 20 breaches of the interim CBO.

PC Laura O'Flynn said: "Jason Allum has caused significant issues for a great number of people across the city and we worked really hard with the Crown Prosecution Service to get this CBO.

He was handed a suspended sentence at Peterborough Magistrates' Court (Cambridge News)

"We recognise the harm his behaviour has on the community, in particular women and girls' sense of safety.

"We will continue to enforce the conditions of the CBO but would ask the public to come forward and report breaches to us so we can investigate and take prompt action."

It follows hundreds of examples of him being rude when people refuse to give him anything.

Allum has been known to approach customers sitting in a coffee shop, while shouting and swearing.

Customers and staff at the nearby Burleigh Arms pub have been intimidated by Allum's aggressive begging numerous times when he shouted and swore at them when they did not give him money.

On another occasion, Allum was spotted on CCTV approaching an ATM with a woman who then gave him money, before he was seen walking behind a woman who was alone.

He has also been in trouble with the police for similar incidents over a period of many years.

He was given an ASBO for aggressive begging in 2012.

In July 2019 a post from Cambridgeshire Police's Facebook page showed a custody image of Allum, and added: "A city beggar who broke his ASBO has been jailed for eight months.

Allum aggressively approached several people in Cambridge (Getty Images)

"Jason Allum was issued an indefinite anti-social behaviour order in 2012 with conditions not to beg or approach members of the public near a cash machine in the city.

"The 32-year-old breached his anti-social behaviour order 11 times in five weeks, keyed a car and spat at a member of the public."

And in March 2020, Cambridgeshire Police again posted on their Facebook page about him, saying that he had been given a year in prison after pleading guilty to 11 offences including multiple breaches of an ASBO not to beg in Cambridge city.

At the time a post said: "We hope this outcome will provide some respite for the people who have been affected by his behaviour.

"We do recognise that this isn't a long term solution and we will continue to work with partner agencies to try and resolve some of the underlying problems that are driving this behaviour to prevent re-offending upon his release from prison."

In January 2022, the beggar was sent to prison for 24 weeks after pleading guilty to common assault, using threatening behaviour to cause alarm or distress and begging in a public place.

He admitted that, during his most recent crimes - which took place between July and November 2021 - he had punched one woman, knocked another to the ground and hit a man on the back after they refused to give him money.

At the time, city centre Sergeant Kevin Misik said: "Allum is a prolific, aggressive beggar operating in Cambridge city.

"He has subjected many innocent people to frenzied attacks because they've refused to hand over any money.

"His behaviour is often frightening and violent and the sentence reflects the seriousness of his actions.

His latest order now states that he must request or accept any money from any member of the public in the county of Cambridgeshire, except in a lawful transaction.

He must not act in an anti-social or disorderly manner and cannot enter 16 areas of Cambridge City Centre.

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