A benefit recipient who dressed like a rough sleeper and begged in order to feed his drug habit has been banned from a town centre.
For the people of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire Alan Dainton was a familiar sight on the town's streets.
He could regularly be seen outside shops in a sleeping bag, asking passing members of the public for some change.
The 47-year-old was not actually a rough sleeper however, but lived in a council funded house and received full benefits, Gloucestershire Live reported.
Dainton would wake up in his Vittoria Walk house, dress himself to look like he'd slept on the streets and then stroll for 15 minutes into the town centre.
His scamming days were cut short when Solace, a joint team that includes officers from Gloucestershire Constabulary, Cheltenham Borough Council and Gloucester City Council, brought a civil case against him.
Homeless man being forced out of makeshift house he built by beach
On March 18 at Cheltenham and Gloucester County Court Dainton was served with a civil anti-social behaviour injunction.
He is now banned from entering the town centre and cannot beg anywhere in Cheltenham for a year.
Solace team leader, Louise Boyle, said: "Before taking enforcement action we were aware that Mr Dainton when begging was telling members of the public that he was homeless, however, he had accommodation.
"We were also aware that he was then using this money gained from begging to fund his drug habit."
"We followed a process of a verbal warning, a letter of concern and a final warning letter asking Mr Dainton to stop his behaviour; at each stage he was also signposted to where he could receive support in the hope that it would help him break the cycle of drug use.
"Solace is committed to reducing anti-social behaviour in both Cheltenham and Gloucester through support and where needed enforcement action."
