A MAN from Amesbury has been handed a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) after being convicted of persistent begging in the town.

Tatenda Mushandu, 40, of Maple Way, appeared before Salisbury Magistrates’ Court on February 10 where he was found guilty of four counts of persistent begging in a public place. He was fined for the offences.

Following the conviction, magistrates imposed a CBO lasting until February 2029, placing a series of strict conditions on Mushandu.

Under the order, he is prohibited from approaching members of the public to request donations or implying he needs donations. He must not sit or loiter within 50 metres of any shop or business in Amesbury.

He is also banned from entering the entirety of Solstice Park Services, including all car parks, footpaths and areas between commercial premises within the retail park boundary.

In addition, Mushandu must not enter Co-Op on Boscombe Road, Co-Op on Salisbury Street, or One Stop in Sandell Place, Amesbury.

Police say any breach of the order should be treated as a crime in progress.

Members of the public are asked to contact Wiltshire Police on 999, providing Mushandu’s name, a description of his clothing, his exact location and direction of travel if he has left the area, and details of the alleged breach.

PC Emma Smith, from the Amesbury Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “I am pleased that the court has seen fit to deal robustly with Mushandu’s chronic offending by issuing this three-year CBO.

“His behaviours have caused harassment, alarm and distress to members of the public, in particular people shopping at and working in local retail outlets.

“This will allow police to take positive and swift action against him going forward, should he breach the order. If Mushandu breaches any of the conditions imposed, he commits a criminal offence and is liable to arrest and once again he will be put before the courts.

“The restrictions imposed on him sends out a clear message that this type of anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated and our team are working to seek similar conditions against other known local perpetrators of retail related offences in Amesbury.”

Anyone with concerns about behaviour in their area can call 101, or 999 in an emergency, or report online via Wiltshire Police’s website.