AN ‘aggressive’ Worcester beggar who targeted elderly people could be slapped with a criminal behaviour order (CBO) to protect the people of the city.

However, the begging ban was delayed because Marie Baker, the subject of the application, did not attend a hearing to discuss it at Worcester Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The 40-year-old, of no fixed abode, but with links to both Worcester and Malvern, had been informed of the hearing date well in advance.

Baker, who has previously served a jail sentence, was convicted of begging in a public place and causing racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress on September 26 this year.

Shawn Williams, prosecuting, told magistrates Baker had pleaded guilty at a hearing the same day and was fined £100 for the racially aggravated public order offence. No separate penalty was imposed for the begging offence.

Mr Williams said: “Her conduct involves her locating herself by cash machines in particular areas and public places seeking, and often aggressively seeking, money from individuals, causing harassment, causing alarm and distress, frequently to elderly individuals.”

The CBO application was also served upon Baker on September 26.

The CBO, if granted, would prohibit Baker from soliciting or begging from any person, including on behalf of a charity, in any public place and being verbally abusive to anyone or from behaving in a manner that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Baker would also be required to continue to accept assistance from Maggs Day Centre MOATS team.

Mr Williams told the court its purpose was to provide ‘an active deterrent in respect of the antisocial behaviour’ but a ‘positive requirement’ was also needed.

“The purpose of the criminal behaviour order is both carrot and stick” said Mr Williams.

He added: “The root cause of this behaviour is in relation to seeking to get money for drugs.”

Baker had indicated on October 3 she wished to contest the CBO application on the grounds it ‘would not prevent her engaging in such behaviour.’

But, when she didn’t appear on Tuesday, magistrates adjourned the case - appearing to do so under the false impression Baker had never served a jail sentence.

The chairman of the bench said: “Amongst people being put up for such orders, she hasn’t got the longest criminal record we have ever seen. We are also concerned that Miss Baker has had no experience of custody.”

However, in 2017 we reported how Baker was jailed for six months after begging for 50p on the streets of Worcester, sentenced without legal representation because she was unable to get a solicitor or legal aid.

We also reported in 2015 how Baker preyed on vulnerable elderly people in Malvern, stealing money from them.

In one incident she promised to go shopping for a 57-year-old disabled man, but instead stole his £10.

In another West Mercia Police said she had stolen £600 from a housebound 86-year-old with cerebral palsy.

As a result Baker was served with an injunction prohibiting her from visiting the Pickersleigh ward in Malvern.

This came days after Fortis Living evicted her from a flat in Marsh Close on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 after complaints of anti-social behaviour.

Susie Duncan, for Baker, said: “I’m surprised she isn’t here. She is homeless. I have no means of contacting her. I don’t have a telephone number to call her.”

Magistrates agreed to adjourn consideration of the CBO to Kidderminster Magistrates Court on December 17.