Beggar Tells Court He Earns More From Street Than Working A Real Job

The court heard that begging was a major
problem in Nottingham and a police operation
was set up to combat it. Craig Atkinson, 36,
was arrested and pleaded guilty to begging but
said the cash went on his two children.
The beggar told a court his income would
drop if he took “a regular job.”
He said:
“If I got a proper regular job, I would get
less money than I am doing this. “People
give me money. There are no victims.
“Other people sustain a £200 drug habit
but mine goes to my two teenage
children.”
He told Nottingham Magistrates Court on
Tuesday that he is homeless but went on:
“I have got a few roofs. The problem in
my life is I will not be in one place.”
He was given a six-month conditional
discharge with a £15 government
surcharge.
He said: “I can pay that for you now.”
But when magistrates also ordered £85
prosecution costs he replied:
“Please send me to prison. I have no
intention of paying it.”
Margaret Martin, prosecuting, said: “He
said he makes more with this than with a
job.”