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A “homeless” beggar who commutes 220 miles from his flat to rake in money from people in Mayfair today appeared to defend his actions as “earning a living”.

Damien Preston-Booth, who has been dubbed “Supertramp”, claims benefits, recently went on holidays to Ibiza, Monaco and Paris, and uses a mobile card reader to take payments.

Today the 37-year-old was accused of conning passers-by by pretending to be homeless, and was said to have made £4,500 over the New Year alone.

But he appeared to dismiss the criticism, liking a message sent by a friend on Facebook which read: “Everybody has to earn a living damo ... Good luck to ya. There’s no judgment here pal.”

He also told how Simon Cowell had once given him £20.

Mr Preston-Booth commutes to London from his £300-a-month flat in Preston for a few days each week, typically sleeping in the doorway of Lebanese restaurant the Mamounia Lounge, or a hotel if the weather is bad. He is said to have targeted wealthy people at restaurants and bars for five years, with acquaintances calling it “a little business”.

Emil Staykov, 45, the Mamounia’s chief porter, said: “That guy is really arrogant. He asks our customers for money as they go in and then sleeps in the doorway.

“I have called the police on him loads of times and have been tempted just to throw him out myself. I knew he had money, he always had two phones.

He was horrible to the restaurant staff but would then be all smiles and jokes with the customers so they gave him money. That is a guy I do not like.

“He has not slept here for the last week or so probably because of the weather. We do not want him back.”

Preston-Booth is said to take around five or six holidays a year, with pictures online showing himself enjoying in different tourist locations.

Concierge Karim Mouaj, 43, said: “The guy is a big character. In summer he rides around on a Boris bike topless with his belly hanging out. He calls me Mr Concierge and talks a little bit of loads of languages so he can speak to tourists. He knows Arabic, a bit of Chinese. He has the gift of the gab. I am shocked he has a house and goes on holidays.”

A homeless man, who gave his name as Angus, said: “He is one of the most confident beggars around Mayfair. He is a well known face and is very good at getting people to part with money.”

Confronted about his lifestyle, he told The Sun he used a chip and pin with his “regulars” and had “nothing to hide”.

He admitted begging, which is illegal and carries a maximum £1,000 fine, and coming down to London after getting his flat in October.

He said: “I do it to buy things for the flat - not like smackheads who spend it on drugs and beers.”

He denied earning thousands on New Year’s Eve and said he earned around £200 a week, but did not beg all the time.

Scotland Yard said it takes action against “aggressive begging” where it deems appropriate to do so.