A 43-YEAR-OLD man moved on by police a number for begging in Accrington town centre returned every time.
Blackburn magistrates heard Wayne Michael Nix was a passive rather than an aggressive beggar.
Nix, of Edleston Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to begging. He was made subject to a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £20 victim surcharge.
Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Nix had no previous convictions for begging but had an extensive record including 187 previous offences, many of them for shoplifting.
Gareth Price, defending, said his client sat on the floor in the town centre without a cap or a receptacle of a sign in front of him.
"Although there is no action on his part it is accepted this would be construed as begging," said Mr Price. "He is not aggressive. He doesn't approach people. They sometimes decide to give him money but there is no action on his part."
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