Callous thief who stole charity cash banned from city's churches

Paul Harrison faces a custodial sentence if he goes into any religious building or shrine in his home city of York during the next two years.

Harrison was given the ban under an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) imposed by York magistrates after the thefts on December 17, which he carried out to feed a drug habit.

York Magistrates' Court was told Harrison, 32, of no fixed address, had been stealing from charity boxes in the city's churches, including York Minster, for several years.

He repeatedly targeted St Wilfrid's Roman Catholic Church and The Shrine Of St Margaret Clitherow in The Shambles – which was this week named as Britain's most picturesque street.

The Safer York Partnership's anti-social behaviour co-ordinator Amy Fenwick said: "Everyone has the right to visit and worship at churches without the fear of having their contributions to church being stolen. Harrison was warned and offered help, but he chose to continue stealing, as a result he has had his right to visit places of worship removed."

Magistrates heard Harrison had a "very specific method" of removing money and as a result of the thefts St Wilfrid's started closing early, to the detriment of visitors and worshippers.

He had been offered help through the church and local agencies but failed to change his ways and was arrested, charged and imprisoned for three previous similar offences over a six-month period.

His last theft happened two days after his release from prison.

Pc Jon Hodgeon, a Safer Neighbourhood team officer, said the churches concerned had been consulted and given their support before the Asbo application was made.

The order also bans Harrison from acting in a manner likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to others.

After the case, Father Tim Jones, the York vicar who hit the headlines before Christmas after advocating shoplifting as the best option for some vulnerable people, said the Asbo sounded "reasonable and sensible".

He added: "It is important that we don't judge Paul Harrison in the way that only God may judge.

"The Christian Church is not defined by its buildings and so will still be able to offer Paul any pastoral care that he may require."

The Dean of York, Keith Jones, maintained that churches were places of safety and welcome for the public, and so it "went against the grain" to tell somebody they should not enter one because of their bad behaviour.

But he added: "Stealing from churches is as wrong as all other stealing. I hope and pray Mr Harrison will be helped to put his life right and if he needs help that he gets it.

"Then the judgement can be re-considered."

Eleanor Course, the spokeswoman for the York Diocese, added: "Harrison was stealing money given by people to the church and to charities, and we have a responsibility toward those people, to honour and safeguard their gifts."