Michael Todd is the latest offender to be banned from parts of the town centre after a court order was made
Poppy Kennedy Chief Reporter
19:18, 26 Oct 2025
Left-right: Michael Todd, Anita Kilty, Mark Taylor
A persistent beggar has become the latest individual to be legally barred from Middlesbrough town centre. Michael Todd, who is known by Middlesbrough Council for his regular public drug use, will be forbidden from entering certain parts of the town centre for the next two years.
This follows a successful application by Middlesbrough Council officers and Cleveland Police for a criminal behaviour order (CBO). The order was granted after Teesside Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday, October 21, that Todd, a resident of Palm Street, Middlesbrough, had frequently caused disturbances by begging and had been verbally abusive towards council staff.
The legal order prohibits the 54 year old from entering the shopping area of Middlesbrough town centre and from begging or sitting on the ground outside licensed premises, food outlets or cash machines. Breaching the order constitutes a criminal offence and could result in imprisonment.
Todd is the third person to be issued with a CBO in recent weeks. Middlesbrough Council also spearheaded applications for Mark Taylor, 57, and Anita Kilty, 53, to be banned due to their persistent begging in the town centre.
Taylor, who has no fixed address, and Kilty, a resident of Burlam Road, Linthorpe, were both given two-year CBOs earlier in October. Cllr Ian Blades, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, commented: “This sort of behaviour can blight the town centre and our officers work incredibly hard, alongside Cleveland Police and other partners, to stamp it out.”, reports Teesside Live.
“We will do everything we can to help those in need access the necessary support, and obtaining this type of order is always a last resort. But when the behaviour is persistent we will waste no time in taking firm and robust action.
“I want to commend everyone involved in securing this order – including the efforts of those neighbourhood officers who work tirelessly to improve our town centre for all in Middlesbrough.”
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