An aggressive beggar who headbutted a store worker after he was asked to move has been jailed for 12 months.

Mark Pearson, 48, of no fixed address, received six month consecutive sentences at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Monday, April 15, for two counts of breaching a criminal behaviour order.

He received a six month concurrent sentence for common assault and was ordered to pay £200 in compensation.

Pearson’s criminal behaviour order has also been extended.

Insp Ian Hughes, of Southend’s Community Policing Team, said: “Pearson is an aggressive beggar who has continued to show a complete disregard for the order placed on him, with five breaches since 2018.  

“He has been offered numerous opportunities to accept support to divert him away from this lifestyle, however, he has chosen to not engage or take up any of these offers which has resulted in enforcement being taken against him.

“In this recent incident, he assaulted an innocent shop worker who had simply asked him to move away from the shop’s entrance. 

“Pearson walked off without remorse before being found once again outside the same shop weeks later.

“Pearson’s actions have resulted him being imprisoned and the community behaviour order against him has been extended. If he is found begging in this area again, he could face an even lengthier sentence.”

On Tuesday, February 19, Pearson was asked to move away from the entrance of a shop in Hamlet Court Road.

Pearson is prohibited from begging and being in a designated area in Southend after being given a criminal behaviour order at Southend Magistrates’ Court on November 9, 2017.

He then started to become aggressive to the man before standing up and head-butting him in the nose. 

The victim suffered a bloodied nose and swelling and was taken to hospital.

Pearson left the scene and was found outside the shop on Friday, March 1, where he was arrested and remanded.

Pearson’s criminal behaviour order now includes the London Road up to Palace Theatre, Cranley Road, Valkyrie Road and Palmerston Road down to Western Esplanade and Western Esplanade to Marine Parade. It continues to include the entirety of Southend town centre.