A persistent Bradford beggar has been jailed for a total of 13 weeks by Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court.

Alin-Florin Schiopu, 24, of Colonnade House, Sunbridge Road, admitted placing himself in a public place, highway, court or passage, namely the Hamm Strass junction with Drewton Road, on December 19 last year to beg or gather alms, contrary to the Vagrancy Act 1824, having previously been convicted of such an offence.

He also pleaded guilty to breach of his bail on March 17 by failing to turn up at the court, damaging custody area flooring at Bradford’s Trafalgar House Police Station on October 5, assaulting a police officer on January 1, 2020, and stealing four bottles of vodka worth £75 from the Food Warehouse on Manningham Lane, Bradford.