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A homeless man who repeatedly defecated outside Chester city centre shops has been handed a five-year criminal behaviour order by the courts in a bid to curb his persistent anti-social antics.

Thirty-four-year-old Darren Yardley had the order imposed on him following a string of incidents, including injecting drugs in public and then discarding the paraphernalia and blood-stained needles, as well as defecating and urinating outside stores and in doorways.

Yardley was offered help by support agencies on a number of occasions but he refused, continuing to sleep rough and beg on the city’s streets instead.

'Unacceptable'

PC Charlotte Lloyd, from Chester’s Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, said: “We have all worked hard to try and support Darren Yardley but he simply will not engage with any services and access accommodation.

“There is no need for him to sleep rough and his behaviour in publicly defecating on the streets of Chester is unacceptable to anyone.

“It is also unacceptable to inject yourself publicly with drugs and then leave the remnants behind, causing risk to other people.”

The criminal behaviour order prevents Yardley from begging and entering any car parks for the purpose of sleeping and drinking alcohol or using drugs.

He is also excluded from certain areas of the city and from entering any public toilets to use drugs.

Warning

Members of the public have been advised not to give money to beggars.

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Community safety warden Sam Chapman, of Chester Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, said: “We will continue to target people who behave in this way in Chester,”

“In relation to people begging, I would urge people not to give money to beggars, as the proceeds of begging will sometimes be spent on drugs. Instead, I would advise donating to charities where the money will be used to provide the support and help they need.”