Wayne RosePOLICE want Adver readers to help clear beggar Wayne 'Crying Boy' Rose off our streets. As part of a campaign to clean up Swindon, officers want to ban the 25-year-old heroin addict from areas where he preys on Good Samaritans.

In recent years, Rose has become a notorious figure in the town.

His tactic is to approach strangers asking for money, often bursting into tears.

His approach is so persuasive that kind-hearted pedestrians are often prepared to part with £5 and £10 notes to help.

Now, police want to apply for an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) to ban him from his favourite haunts.

And our readers can play a key role in making the application a success.

Officers need to hear from anyone who feels they have been harassed by him.

And they particularly need to know which areas he is targeting.

Town centre beat officer PC Andy Alexander decided to act after Rose was arrested yesterday for allegedly hassling pedestrians right opposite the central police station.

PC Alexander said that Rose was active in the town centre, Greenbridge and around the railway station.

"We are concerned, however, that he goes to other places too.

"Anyone who has been approached by him should get in touch.

"We need to build up a dossier to persuade magistrates to grant the ASBO."

Anyone with information should contact the It's Your Call hotline, which is backed by the Adver on 0845 605 2222.

Information will be taken by Swindon's Crime and Disorder Team, and passed to the police.

The hotline is playing a key role in cracking anti-social behaviour and making Swindon a better place to live.

He needed cash, court told

THE heroin addict dubbed 'the crying boy' has appeared in court on deception charges.

Wayne Rose, 25, of Silverton Road, Park North, allegedly told people in Swindon town centre, that he needed cash to flee his abusive stepfather.

Yesterday, Anna Humphries, prosecuting, told District Judge Simon Cooper sitting at Swindon Magistrates Court that Rose was arrested after complaints from two members of the public.

Rose denies charges of deception.

Mrs Humphries said Rose regularly targets office workers near to the bus and train stations.

"Women in the town centre have been particularly distressed by Mr Rose," she said.

"And he has even attracted the attention of the media, who have dubbed him 'the crying boy'.

"Two members of the public alerted a police officer after the defendant asked them for £10 each so he could purchase a train ticket to flee his stepfather." Mrs Humphries alleged.

"Both people refused to hand over the money."

Rob Ross, defending, said his client asked for cash but stressed that he did not specify what the money was needed for.

Mr Ross said his client would benefit from an order banning him from the town centre.

But District Judge Cooper said he had no option but to remand Rose in custody while reports are made.

The case was adjourned for trial on April 14.