Banned Sheffield beggar sentenced for breaching court order and assault

Stephen Rowley, 39, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 38 weeks in prison for breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order and assault.

Rowley, who is subject to a criminal behaviour order banning him from the city centre and begging, appeared at Sheffield Magistrates Court today.

This was in relation to a number of CBO breaches and assaults in which he attacked members of the public who refused to give him money after being approached by him.

Earlier this year, Rowley was issued with a CBO by Sheffield Magistrates' Court, banning him from asking for money in the city centre for five years.

The order explicitly prohibits him from approaching people and asking them for money as well as a host of other conditions.

He was issued with the CBO after being convicted of common assault, after he spat at a woman who refused to give him money and racially abused a member of staff on The Moor, in Sheffield city centre, for which he was jailed for 12 weeks in January 2018.

OIC PC Hanson said: "Rowley has been given a substantial prison sentence in light of his continued offending in breaching his Criminal Behaviour Order. Rowley has then gone on to assault members of the public who refused his advancements and the magistrates have reflected on his behaviour when sentencing him.

"I am glad that Rowley will now be off the streets of Sheffield and members of the public will not have to put up with his unacceptable behaviour when going about their daily businesses."