Woman ‘persistently’ begged in Lincoln City Centre and followed people to ATMs – Lincolnshire Live

A woman who persistently begged in Lincoln city centre and targeted people at cashpoints has been given a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) by Lincolnshire Police. Romayne Thompson, 30, of no fixed address, began begging in May 2022.

In just one week of June, the Lincoln Neighbourhood Policing Team and the City of Lincoln CCTV team discovered that Thompson had approached more than 50 people on Lincoln High Street. She was seen to ask people directly for money along with following people to cash points and making further requests when they had withdrawn their money.

At a hearing at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, August 10, she was given a two-year CBO with a specific condition not to beg for money or goods within the Lincoln city boundary. Police Constable Andy Balding said: “This is someone who was very aggressive with begging, who would approach members of the public and ask them directly for money, or provide a story designed to elicit sympathy and ultimately money from her victims.

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“On several occasions, she has followed people to cash machines and then been handed notes from the victim. This kind of behaviour can be extremely intimidating to vulnerable members of the public who can feel pressured into handing over money when they might otherwise choose to ignore the request.”

Thompson had previously been convicted of seven begging offences which took place between May 5 and May 22 on Lincoln High Street. That hearing was held at Lincoln District Magistrates’ Court on July 11, where she received a 12-month conditional discharge.

She was then convicted for persistent begging after being captured on CCTV approaching people, often when they were at ATMs, and asking for money between May 27 and June 15. Lincolnshire Police said that the CBO is designed to tackle the most serious and persistent anti-social individuals where their behaviour has led to them being in a criminal court.

If the order is breached, it results in a criminal offence and a custodial sentence can be enforced to deal with the individual. Lincolnshire Police added that it proactively releases images of people with CBOs issues so that members of the public can stay clear of their offending.

Police can be contacted on 101 if people have any incidents they may feel needs police attention.

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Source: https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/lincoln-news/woman-issued-criminal-behaviour-order-7477835