1 week Ago
One of Bolton's junction-side beggars has spoken out after some drivers reported feeling unsafe while driving past them. The man, who wished to remain unnamed, stands on a junction on St George's Road, and says he was kicked out of his family home in Preston by his wife and had to move to Bolton so that his children do not spot him begging. A 55-year-old former business owner, he is claiming universal credit, but the funds from that combined with the coins he gathers from motorists are not enough to avoid him being homeless and sofa surfing.
"I believe we're being treated unfairly," he said. "I'm here because I lost my business, my wife left me and I lost contact with my kids. "I hate it.
" Read more: Bolton police launch Operation Shelter in 'begging' crackdown He has been homeless for three years and has been forced to beg on and off to provide a form of income. He spends two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon standing at the junction hoping to get some cash into his empty Pringles can. "There are some that are scammers, and go up and knock on windows, I don't do that," he added.
He explained: "I beg at junctions because it's the easiest way as traffic stops." (Image: NQ) This year, Greater Manchester Police launched Operation Yetminster to ' tackle the issue of people begging in Bolton'. The junction where the man The Bolton News spoke to operates was one of the ones targeted, with 41 instances of begging, done by 16 different people, recorded by officers.
GMP said that locals felt anxious and intimidated when crossing the road, forcing action. The police are seeking feedback from residents in the area about the effects people begging at junctions have. The man, who was begging at the time, added: "There is one guy who operates between Chorley New Road and Chorley Old Road, he got kicked out of a hostel and is in a wheelchair.
"He's suffering really badly because nobody will take him in. "There is another guy who knocked on a car's window and scared a young girl inside, the police came and arrested him, and then told me to move. "But I've never knocked on a car's window.
" Begging is an offence in a public place and perpetrators can be arrested..
