A HOMELESS man who was caught begging in Wells town centre after ignoring repeated warnings that it was illegal has been fined £180 by a court.

Michael Parker was spotted sitting in the city’s High Street with a black hat on the ground in front of him containing a quantity of loose change.

When officers approached him to say he should not be begging he replied that he did not realise it was an offence and was doing it because he was “desperate.”

Parker, 28, living care/of Elim Centre, Wells, was charged with placing himself in a public place, namely Wells High Street, to beg or gather alms on December 18 last year.

He was due to appear before District Judge Angela Brereton, sitting at Yeovil, but failed to attend on the day of the hearing.

Prosecutor Emma Lenanton said that a police constable on duty in Wells High Street shortly before 2.15pm and saw a male sitting outside an empty shop near Boots.

“He could see the defendant with a black hat containing a quantity of loose change in front of him,” she said.

“The males said he was begging as he was desperate and homeless but was told it was an offence.”

He had been warned on at least two previous occasions about similar behaviour and was handed a copy of a begging letter with help to find accommodation and services.

He told the police that he had a tent in Glastonbury where he was staying near the Tor.

The district judge found the case proved in Parker’s absence and fined him £180 withy £50 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.