A street beggar is raking in up to £500 a day targeting shoppers and commuters by pretending to be homeless despite apparently living in a 'reasonable property'.
The man, who has not been named, has been begging for money in Wolverhampton city centre, in the West Midlands, and is said to be earning the equivalent of £2,500 a week.
His takings amount to a pre-tax annual income of around £130,000 - only £12,000 less than Prime Minister David Cameron's yearly wage.
The man, who has not been named, has been begging for money from shoppers and commuters in Wolverhampton, in the West Midlands, and is said to be earning the equivalent of £2,500 a week/
Steve Evans, Wolverhampton's environment boss and a Labour councillor, said the man is known to live in a 'reasonable property' but targets shoppers by pretending to be homeless.
He said: 'The information regarding the individual making up to £500 a day came from a fellow council officer.
'We knew he wasn't homeless as he was registered to an address and lived in quite a reasonable property actually. Yet he would be seen in the middle of the city centre at busy times of the day and happy to sit there all day long.
'He might travel between different cities and towns as well and he was making a tidy sum, much more than you and I.
'It is shame that where people have a genuine need of help you have a few individuals who are taking advantage of people's generosity.
It is shame that where people have a genuine need of help you have a few individuals who are taking advantage of people's generosity
Labour councillor Steve Evans
'I don't think it's acceptable.'
He claims conmen have been targeting kind-hearted people in the city, where workers boast an average wage of around £20,000.
He said many beggars are 'by and large' not homeless and just want money for alcohol.
He added: 'Begging still exists and I don't think anyone appreciates coming into the city centre and doing shopping and being approached by someone asking for money.
'You know it is someone that by and large isn't homeless, but is trying to get some money to have an alcoholic drink and I believe we have got some professional beggars.
'We have got some information that one man was making between £300 to £500 a day and wasn't homeless at all.
'Some of them need help but others just want the money for a drink.'
Mr Evans said he is now looking to work with the authorities in a bid to take those who are scamming members of the public to court.
Labour councillor Steve Evans claims 'by and large' beggars in the city are not homeless and just want money for alcohol. He is now planning to work with the authorities in a bid to take those not in need to court.
He added: 'Between the local authority, our partners and the courts we are working to take action to those responsible for begging. They can be taken to court but it's all about proof.
'I think they will have the equipment and the evidential information to say who has been begging.
'We would be looking to take them to court and get some kind of exclusion order on the city centre.'
One 28-year-old beggar in the city centre, who did not wish to be named, said he was worried Mr Evans' comments will 'put people off giving me money'.
He said: 'Some of us are genuinely homeless and in need of cash, not for alcohol, but to put a roof over our heads for the night and eat.
THE LAWS ON BEGGING IN THE UK
Under the Vagrancy Act 1824, it is an offence to sleep rough or beg in England and Wales.
Those doing so will be told to move along and can be arrested.
Those who continue to persistently flout the law can face jail for the offence.
'It is a shame a select few can give us all a bad name. Some of them are just conmen.
'They are professionals who take advantage of people's generosity when we are the ones in desperate need of real help
'They are here most days too, so they must be raking it in.'
Simon Van Der Hoek, 48, who has been living on the streets of Wolverhampton for three years, said: 'It's not right that somebody who isn't homeless could exploit people like this.
'The only reason I ask for money is so I can eat, not for any other reason at all.
'I don't ask for any more than I need. So it's wrong if there's someone doing that.'
Paul Bird, 29, who has been begging for six months, added: 'I don't reckon everyone who begs sleeps rough around here.
'I had a bad accident after my mum died and ended up disabled on the street, so it would wind me up if someone's pretending to be homeless.'
And Ash Cooper, 26, who has been sleeping rough in Wolverhampton for six months, said: 'People should be allowed to beg, because if you make that illegal it's like saying you can't ask for help.
'But if [beggars] are not telling people the truth then that's wrong and that gets me angry.'
Kevin Staunton, manager of St Georges House Charity which is based in Wolverhampton, urged people 'not to give money to beggars'.
'There are people who are in genuine need of help but others who are professional beggars who will take advantage,' he said.
'Rather than giving money to them, it would be much better invested in organisations and charities that deal with homelessness.
'We can get to the root of the problems and deal with them head on with the resources that we have.
'Or if you are concerned about what they will spend your money on buy them a cup of tea or something to eat instead.
'There have been instances of professional beggars since the days of Dickens, but I have not heard of this sort of money being mentioned before.'
Sergeant Paul Frear, from West Midlands Police, said the force was working with the council to resolve issues around nuisance beggars.
He said: 'We want to help people who have complex needs and struggle to access services by directing them to benefits, housing, alcohol and substance abuse services or mental health support.
'But begging is an offence and those who ignore warnings will be arrested by officers and taken to court.'
