A pensioner has been jailed for swigging alcohol and begging for loose change within the city walls.

Francis Vereecken, 65, was flouting a court order banning him from drinking and begging in Canterbury city centre when he was spotted by police.

Magistrates heard that Vereecken was seen with an “open alcohol container” on April 18 this year.

He admitted breaching a previously imposed order when he appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court two days later.

The chairman of the bench sent him to prison for 90 days, as well as fining him £100. Vereecken, of Green Lane, Folkestone, was already barred from drinking or begging in Canterbury, as well as various parts of his home town.

Magistrates previously heard he had ignored demands to stop both activities, leading to an earlier court appearance.

In the dock in February this year, he pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to comply with a Public Spaces Protection Order covering Folkestone and parts of Sandgate.

The order, set up by Shepway District Council last year, aimed at tackling street drinking, rough sleeping, begging and the use of legal highs.

It is an offence to continue anti-social behaviour after being warned to stop it by a police officer, a police community support officer or a council officer.

Folkestone magistrates had heard that at about 4pm on New Year’s Eve, Vereecken was found begging and drinking alcohol in Sandgate Road, Folkestone.

An hour and a half later he was found doing the same in Town Walk, Folkestone.

He breached the order again on January 6 when he was found drinking in Sandgate Road, Folkestone.

Vereecken was given a two-year conditional discharge for these offences and police later successfully applied for a two-year criminal behaviour order, which runs until the end of January 2018.

Until then, he was banned from begging or drinking alcohol within the walls of Canterbury and various parts of Folkestone and Sandgate.