A beggar who plagued Wolverhampton city centre has been handed a Criminal Anti-Social Behaviour Order (CRASBO) preventing him from entering three key areas of the city. Arvis Kalnkazins appeared before Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on Friday, June 22 where he was found guilty of begging in a public place, given a £665 fine and handed the order which will run for five years.
If the 29-year-old breaches the conditions of the order, he faces up to five years in prison, a fine or both. The court heard that Kalnkazins has been persistently begging in an aggressive manner and, following complaints from the public, police pursued the order to protect members of the public from this type of anti-social behaviour. After the case, PC Joe Trusselle, from Wolverhampton Local Policing Unit, said: “We are extremely pleased to have secured the CRASBO against Mr Kalnkazins, which will allow us to significantly control his behaviour.
“He has been a persistent beggar in the area for over 12 months after moving here from Coventry where a similar CRASBO is in place.
“This is another example of where we take seriously people who commit crime and anti social behaviour in Wolverhampton city centre and how, with the support of the courts, we can continue to make a difference.”
Kalnkazins is prohibited from entering three key areas in the city and committing begging offences, specifically the area within the ring road, the Asda store on Jack Hayward Way (including the car park) and Tettenhall shopping parade on the High Street, Tettenhall. The only exceptions will be for specific appointments, for which he must carry confirmation. PC Trusselle added: “We would encourage anyone who sees Mr Kalnkazins behaving in an anti-social manner within these areas to report it local police, so that we can ensure he abides by the conditions of his order.”
