A £50,000 Audi TT believed to belong to a local beggar has been attacked, it emerged today.

Matthew Brinton, who has for years asked for money in Bank Street, Newquay, Cornwall, caused fury locally when he was filmed loading his sportscar after a day begging with his dog Hazel.

Mr Brinton, 35, claims he inherited the sportscar from his grandmother but it was then stolen from him.

Today, a battered Audi car said to share the same number plate was found in the town.

Devon and Cornwall Police have no record of the attack on the car but say they will investigate further.

New twist: An Audi TT said to have once belonged to a local beggar has been traced today and has had its windscreen caved in

Close up: The car's windscreen has clearly been smashed with a large object but police are not yet involved

Misunderstanding: Mr Brinton, pictured with his collie Hazel, says the car was a gift and was stolen

New photos taken this morning show the car's windscreen has been smashed with a large object, shattering the glass. The luxury vehicle appears to be spattered with mud.

The beggar said yesterday he has received death threats from angry residents who assume he was passing himself off as homeless in a bid to deceive them out of cash.

The 35-year-old was filmed as he loaded his border collie, Hazel, and a sleeping bag into the vehicle in a car park close to his begging patch.

He then drove back to the house in Newquay, Cornwall, where he lives with a friend.

The footage went viral and police have warned Mr Brinton that angry members of the public have made death threats against him.

More than 100 people have left comments on the video saying they feel they have been tricked by a clever entrepreneur.

On Facebook Trudy Blair said: 'I'm particularly disgusted as he conned £40 from an elderly gentleman I know to 'pay for a B&B' for the night.

'Then he went home! The poor elderly gent was distraught that his kindness had been abused.'

In trouble: Matthew Brinton, a well known beggar, is pictured loading up his Audi TT in a Newquay car park

Siobhan Depper said: 'We spent a lot of money on a nice tent that'll keep him dry and warm.

'I provided copious amounts of clean blankets. Every day he was provided hot food and water – hot drinks on cold days.

'Wonder where that tent went. Never seen him carry it. When asked he even forgot we bought it.'

Mel Burgess said: 'I brought him hot food and a hot drink, was very rude and ungrateful in front of my sons who were eight and 12 at the time. I told them most homeless people were grateful.'

According to the police I've had lots of death threats. People are assuming too much and I'm getting a lot of abuse Beggar Matthew Brinton

A pensioner said: 'May this be a lesson to all of you who believe that these people haven't got a home and get you to put a pound in their old hat. I'm a pensioner living on a pension and feel insulted when people approach me asking me for money.'

Last night the beggar said the car was bequeathed to him by his grandmother and that it was stolen not long after the film appeared on social media.

He added: 'I have not seen any of the social media posts because I do not have access to the internet but according to the police I've had lots of death threats.

'People are assuming too much and I'm getting a lot of abuse, which is pushing me to suicide. This has been going on for years.'

Usual spot: Matthew's usual spot is on Bank Street in Newquay but he says the car incident has led to donations drying up

Mr Brinton, who claimed he has not eaten for days due to stress following the social media post, admitted he lives with a friend. Police describe Mr Brinton as a 'full-on heroin addict with mental health issues' and said the neighbourhood police team was now looking into the situation.

Dave Meredith, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said threats had been directed towards Mr Brinton, but none which presented an immediate risk to his safety.

He said: 'We've told him – "You need to be careful because of the video on Facebook". There's lots of ill-feeling and animosity because of it.'

Mr Meredith said no criminal investigation was being pursued and added: 'It's a sad case, really. I've known him for years, but he doesn't help himself.'