Notorious Sheffield beggar spared jail after flouting coronavirus lockdown laws

A notorious beggar has been spared jail after he was caught flouting the coronavirus restrictions in Sheffield city centre.
By Robert Cumber
Published 20th Apr 2020, 13:45 BST
Updated 20th Apr 2020, 14:56 BST
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Paul Ward was handed a decade-long criminal behaviour order (CBO) in October last year, prohibiting him from approaching people for money, going into certain shops and loitering or sitting in public areas withing the city centre.

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Police said the 45-year-old, of no fixed address, was arrested on Friday for flouting the COVID-19 regulations and breaching the terms of the order by entering the city centre.

Paul WardPaul Ward
Paul Ward
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Sheffield Central PCSO Alison Cundy said Ward appeared the following day at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court, where he was given a 12-week prison sentence suspended for two years.

Police in South Yorkshire have issued more than 100 fines to people caught breaching the coronavirus lockdown restrictions since emergency legislation was brought in at the end of March.

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Anyone caught flouting the regulations can be fined £60 for a first offence.