Barnet Council and British Transport Police have spoken out against a "light" sentence given to a homeless man who has been hassling people at the borough's Tube stations.

Hendon magistrates could have imprisoned Selwyn Wright, 37, for five years and given him a £5,000 fine for breaching a anti-social behaviour order ASBO given to him in May.

The order was imposed following offences at East Finchley, Finchley Central and Woodside Park Tube stations over the last seven years, with accusations of Wright pushing and shoving staff and passengers, swearing, urinating, ticket touting, loitering and begging.

Instead Wright was fined £1 at Hendon Magistrates Court on Tuesday last week and given one day's detention.

In court, Wright pleaded guilty to loitering, begging and smoking at the East Finchley station in September. He also admitted staggering around for more than ten minutes on October 5 and loitering and smoking on October 11 at East Finchley station.

But magistrates imposed a lenient sentence after Wright had apparently been imprisoned for a separate offence he did not commit.

Barnet Council's cabinet member for community development, Councillor Susette Palmer, said: "There may be reasons why the sentence in this case is light but we are concerned at the message it gives out at a time when the council is working hard to protect residents from the kind of unruly behaviour committed by Selwyn Wright."

Chief Inspector Dave Dickason for British Transport Police said: "It concerns us as he's been a problem for some time. Having said that, if Wright does breach the order again there's no telling what sentence he'll get."

October 23, 2001 16:18

SARAH MILLS