Street drinking
A Tunbridge Wells beggar has been banned from drinking in public after a string of offences Getty

Kent Police has finally had enough of notorious street drinker John Abbotts after the beggar committed a string of offences including kissing and licking a man's face.

Abbotts, 51, of no fixed address, is currently serving a 120-day custodial sentence for a variety of offences and was last week handed Tunbridge Well's first criminal behaviour order banning him from drinking alcohol in public.

PC Emma Cole of the Tunbridge Wells community safety unit said: "John Abbotts has become a familiar face in Tunbridge Wells town centre for all the wrong reasons.

"He has been arrested on numerous occasions this year, usually relating to his unacceptable behaviour while drunk. He is particularly abusive to members of the public in addition to the doctors, nurses and hospital security staff who regularly come into contact with him.

"Abbotts is also a persistent beggar whose tactic is to invade people's personal space and be overly affectionate in order to intimidate them into handing over money, which he uses to buy more alcohol."

Abbotts is also well known in nearby Tonbridge.

John Abbotts' year of shame

Assault – On 15 April he assaulted a nurse at Maidstone Hospital who was attempting to treat him for a head injury.

Drunk and disorderly – On 7 May Abbotts was caught urinating at a bus stop in Tonbridge High Street and refusing repeated requests to leave the area. He was also seen rolling around in the road and causing disruption to buses and members of the public.

Drunk and disorderly – On 7 May the beggar was found lying asleep in Crescent Road car park, Tunbridge Wells. When roused he was unsteady on his feet and refused to cooperate with officers.

Drunk and disorderly – On 8 May he was found lying asleep behind a bus stop in Tonbridge High Street. When roused he was verbally abusive to members of the public and attempted to climb into the passenger seat of a police car.

Drunk and disorderly – On 3 June Abbotts was sitting on a bench drunk in Monson Road, which is part of the Tunbridge Wells alcohol control zone. He was arrested after refusing repeated requests to put his can of lager in the bin while swearing loudly in the presence of members of the public. He also kissed and licked a man on the face without his consent.

Theft – On 16 June he stole a bottle of wine from Tesco.

Drunk and disorderly – On 18 June he was found lying drunk on the pavement at Tunbridge Wells Common. He was arrested after being verbally abusive to ambulance staff who were attempting to help him.

Drunk and disorderly – On 25 June Abbotts was found lying drunk on a footpath in St John's Road, Tunbridge Wells. When approached by police he was verbally abusive and repeatedly swore at them before being arrested.

Theft – On 17 June he stole alcohol to the value of £7 from Sainsbury's.

More about UK crime