A COUNCILLOR has backed police for securing an Asbo against a drunken beggar.

Tony Cox, Southend’s councillor responsible for public protection, said homeless Roy Sutton was lucky the three-year antisocial behaviour order he was slapped with wasn’t even longer.

Mr Cox said: “If someone is being nasty and aggressive while begging for money, then it seems to me that they must be a professional beggar.

“These beggars put people off visiting the High Street. People want to shop without being harassed.

“I haven’t got a problem with people playing music in the High Street, that gives the place a nice fun feel, but not someone just harassing people for money.

“I’m glad the police have taken this action. I think he is lucky to have got one just for three years.”

Sutton, 31, started living rough on the streets of Southend after he was evicted his flat in Vange, in March.

But the alcoholic began begging from members of the public, including children and the elderly, and was regularly abusive to police when they tried to move him on.

In the last eight months police in Southend have been called to deal with 55 incidents involving Sutton.

At Basildon Magistrates’ Court last week magistrates’ granted an application from police in Southend to slap Sutton with a three-year Asbo.

As part of the order he is banned from approaching people to ask for money or sell things, being threatening or abusive, and being drunk or drinking alcohol in public.

The court was told Sutton had regularly been offered help from charities such as HARP, which works with the homeless, but had turned it down.

Sgt Ashley Holland of Southend neighbourhood policing team said he is now hopeful the Asbo will end Sutton’s “negative impact” on the town.