Matthew McNamara pretended to be homeless (Picture: Hull Daily Mail/MEN Media)

A man who covered himself in a blanket or sleeping bag to pretend to be homeless has been jailed for 24 weeks.

Matthew McNamara, 43, ‘preyed on the sympathies of the public’ by begging for money, despite living in a flat nearby.

Police said McNamara was a ‘thorn in the side’ for neighbours in Hull and was often seen drunk, aggressive and threatening towards the public.

The 43-year-old was given a criminal behaviour order (CBO) for antisocial begging and public drinking, preventing him from harassing the public for money or drink.


He was arrested on May 14 after he was seen breaching the conditions of the CBO in Holderness Road, the Hull Daily Mail reported.



PC Darren Kirkwood told the paper: ‘This man is not homeless. He’d been living in a flat and coming out onto the streets, covering himself in a blanket or sleeping bag and pretending he was homeless to get money.

He was a ‘thorn in the side’ for neighbours (Picture: Hull Live/MEN Media)

‘Not only was he preying on the sympathies of the public, but he was being aggressive and threatening while he was ‘begging’. He was often drunk at the same time.’

He added: ‘This kind of ASB and begging calls for a multi-agency approach that centres on working with partners such as Hull City Council and other supporting agencies.

‘We carry out high visibility patrols along the Holderness Road corridor and also focus on our priorities in the Drypool ward.

‘I would always advise people to avoid giving money directly to individuals, when there are local charities and organisations best placed to provide relevant support.

‘We are however committed to helping anyone who find themselves falling on hard times. Officers work tirelessly with vulnerable members of the community to get them the help they need.

‘We will continue to seek the most appropriate course of action such as CBOs for those to who refuse to engage with us and continue to act in an antisocial manner – like Matthew McNamara.’

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