A BEGGAR who faked being homeless has been jailed for six months after breaching an order banning him from Colchester town centre.

Thomas Roy, 51, of Montgomery Close, Colchester, breached a two-year criminal behaviour order last Friday (April 12) after being seen in Queen Street.

The order, made on January 30 because of his persistent anti-social behaviour, contained the condition that he was banned from entering Colchester town centre except to attend pre-arranged medical, legal or other appointments for professional-related matters.

He admitted breaching the criminal behaviour order when he appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (April 16).

Roy, who is not homeless, was jailed for one week for the offence but, as it was committed while he was subject to a six-month suspended sentence, the magistrates activated the suspended sentence.

He was therefore jailed for a total of six months, with the one week sentence to run concurrently.

READ MORE: Thomas Roy sentenced after breaching town centre ban

In February, Roy breached his order just two days after it was issued by magistrates.

He then was arrested and charged but continued to ignore the order.

On three occasions he was seen begging for money and on the fourth occasion he came into the town centre with no pre-arranged appointment.

He was then caught begging in South Street in March.