A BENDIGO man charged for begging on Mitchell Street has been convicted and placed on a six-month good behaviour bond.
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Police charged Ashley Monti with begging alms on March 2 as part of a crackdown on public begging in the Bendigo CBD in the past 12 months.
He was spotted sitting “with a hat between his legs” at 2.30pm, and told police he was trying to get money for a bus.
Monti appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he told the court he has since found permanent accommodation and financial security.
Monti was living on the NewStart Allowance at the time and has a psychiatric condition, making it difficult to find stable accommodation.
He was also charged with stealing four donuts from Woolworths Golden Square on March 29, and was ordered to pay the supermarket $4.30 in retribution after staff identified him using CCTV footage.
Magistrate Sarah Leighfield said it was good to hear Monti had been able to find somewhere to live.
“No more begging alms or taking donuts,” she said.
Monti was convicted and placed on a six-month good behaviour bond.