- Where there's a will, there's a way!
- The Daily Telegraph
- 06/06/2013 Make a Comment
- Contributed by: Bewitched ( 20 articles in 2013 )
A beggar has been going home to his council-owned flat after a hard day at work.
The 'homeless' beggar who raked in $80,000 a year
SITTING on the pavement next to his dog and sleeping bag, Simon Wright looked to all the world like a homeless beggar.
But what the passers-by who gave him cash didn't know was that he was earning over 50,000 pounds ($A80,900) a year and living in a 300,000 pounds ($A485,400) council flat.
At the end of every day he would pick up his handwritten sign and head back to his Fulham home.
Locals say he regularly went into bookmakers and amusement shops to change up his loose coins. On many occasions they added up to between 200 pounds ($A323) and 300 pounds ($A485). Magistrates have now imposed a two-year Asbo banning him from begging anywhere in London.
PC Oliver Strebel, who brought the case to court, said: "He had a reputation for getting a lot of gifts while begging. He used a sign saying he was homeless and people gave him money on that basis, which is clearly fraud. He would take the money from his cup and change it over at a local betting shop or amusement arcade.
"He worked pretty much every day, and had done so for about three years. He certainly put in the hours."
Wright proved Putney High Street in south-west London was such a lucrative venue that he attracted up to nine other beggars. Since his arrest, they have all but disappeared. Commuters who fell for his story said they were shocked to learn they had been duped.
Chris Faversham said: "I definitely gave him money over the years. Probably about 20 pounds. I wonder if I can get that back?"
Wimbledon Magistrates' Court also ordered Wright to keep his dog muzzled after hearing it had bitten at least one person.
The Asbo will remain in place until May 2015, but if Wright, who admitted fraud and begging, breaches any of its terms he could be sent to prison for up to five years.
Putney councillor Jonathan Cook said: "Anyone who lives, works or shops in and around Putney High Street will be mightily relieved to see this unpleasant individual given his marching orders. "Many people felt intimidated by him and there is some evidence to suggest that he used his dog to threaten and pressure people into handing over cash."
Source: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/money/money-matters/the-8216homeless8217-beggar-who-raked-in-80000-a-year/story-fni0ctl0-1226658449410
1Will not be visible to public.
2Receive notification of other comments posted for this article. To cease notification after having posted click here.
3To make a link clickable in the comments box enclose in link tags - ie.<link>Link</link>.
4To show an image enclose the image URL in tags - ie.<image>https://fredspage.com/box.jpg</image>. Note: image may be resized if too large
To further have your say, head to our forum Click Here
To contribute a news article Click Here
To view or contribute a Quote Click Here