A beggar has been fined £50 by magistrates after being caught asking for money in the town centre.

Shaun Jacobs, of Black Horse Lane, Ipswich, pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court to begging in Carr Street on August 8.

The 35-year-old was caught during a day of police action as part of an ongoing operation which has been running for some time called Operation Burstock.

Ipswich Borough Council CCTV operators were used to carrying out visual sweeps of the town to search for anyone begging.

Uniformed and plain-clothes police officers were used as part of the crackdown.

Jacobs was seen at around noon by a CCTV operator sitting in a doorway in Carr Street attempting to scrounge money from passers-by.

An officer went to the location and spoke to Jacobs.

He was cautioned and reported for summons.

In addition to being fined by magistrates, Jacobs was also told he must pay £30 to the victims’ fund.

Operation Burstock was set up to deal with people sleeping rough and begging in town centre.

The first stage is trying to get them to engage with the authorities and take the help that is offered.

If people choose not to do so the second stage is enforcement of the law.