A man has been banned from begging and being naked in public in an effort to curb his anti-social behaviour.
Mark Upton, of Commercial Street, appeared at Newport Magistrates' Court on March 26 charged with two counts of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
The 54-year-old pleaded guilty to both charges which occurred on Wednesday, March 3, and Sunday, March 11, earlier this year.
Upton was fined a total of £80 and must also pay a victim surcharge of £34.
The defendant was also made the subject of a two-year criminal behaviour order (CBO).
The order states Upton must not:
- Engage or threaten to engage in any conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance, alarm, harassment or distress by either words actions to any person not in the same household as him or encourage any other persons to engage in such behaviour towards any person.
- Sit or sleep (away from his home address) within 10 metres of any cashpoint, pay and display machine or any doorway.
- Be naked in a public place.
- Urinate or defecate in any public open space including any doorway.
- Beg from any person - including but not limited to money / cigarettes / food either openly or passively by your behaviours or actions including placing items on the floor in which to collect items.
Newport crime and reduction officer PC Chris Butt said: "We are committed to making Newport City Centre a safe and pleasant place for all and enforcing this order is a part of that. We know the order will be welcomed by those working and living in the city.
"Applying for a CBO is always a last resort. Before then, we work with our partners to try and engage and support individuals involved in numerous offences.
"We hope the CBO will now act as a deterrent and help Upton to change his ways."
Gwent Police has asked anyone who witnesses Upton breach the order to contact 101, quoting reference 2100085140. Gwent Police can also be contacted by direct message on Facebook or Twitter.
