A ‘beggar’ who claimed he was homeless and hungry for years was earning £50,000-plus a year and living it up in a £300,000 flat, a court heard.

Simon Wright, 37, sat outside a NatWest bank in his tatty clothes with his sleeping bag, his dog, and a hand-written sign telling of his plight.

Generous passers-by took pity on him and regularly gave him £200 to £300 a day. After ‘work’ he went home to his smart council flat, in Fulham, west London.

The homeless man… with a home: Simon Wright (left) has been given an Asbo after it emerged he had been begging for years despite living in a plush £300,000 flat in this block (right) in Fulham

Police say he regularly went into a local bookmakers to change up his loose coins. On many occasions they added up to between £200 and £300.

Magistrates have now imposed a two-year ASBO banning him from begging anywhere in London, or from entering the SW15 postal area, where he regularly passers-by for cash.

PC Oliver Strebel, who was the officer in the case, said: ‘He had a reputation for getting a lot of gifts while begging.

‘He used a sign saying he was homeless and people gave him money on that basis, which is clearly fraud. He would take the money from his cup and change it over at a local betting shop.

‘He worked pretty much every day, and had done so for about three years.  He’d do a 10am to 5pm or 6pm day, often later at weekends. He certainly put in the hours.’

He said Wright proved Putney High Street in south-west London was such a lucrative venue that he attracted up to nine other beggars. Since his arrest and the ASBO they have all but disappeared.

Banned: Wright, 37, would sit wearing ragged clothes outside NatWest bank in Putney High Street, near Putney station, with his dog and ask the public for money

PC Strebel said: ‘This court case has ensured his permanent removal from the high street. This result is excellent news for Putney and the people of Putney.  And the message has gone out to other tramps.’

Wright would sit wearing ragged clothes outside NatWest bank in Putney High Street, near Putney station, with his dog and ask the public for money.

But after a hard day’s begging Wright would pack up his sleeping bag and, instead of heading to a shelter, he would make his way across Putney Bridge to his comfortable flat in Simms Court, Fulham High Street.

Commuters who fell for his bad luck story said they were shocked to learn Wright had duped them.

Chris Faversham, from Putney, said: ‘I definitely gave him money over the years. Probably about £20. I wonder if I can get that back?’

In December 2012 suspicious residents were suggesting that something was not quite right about Wright’s predicament.

Some said he changed up his donations in Greggs in Putney High Street while others said he lived in a tent on Putney Embankment.

But Wright’s days of fleecing the public are over after magistrates slapped an Asbo on him banning him from visiting the SW15 area (Roehampton and Putney) and from begging anywhere in the capital.

Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court, sitting on May 14, also ordered him to keep his dog muzzled and under control at all times in a public place after magistrates were told it had bitten at least one person.

The Asbo will remain in place until May 2015 but if Wright, who admitted fraud and begging, breaches any of its terms he could be sent to prison for up to five years and face an unlimited fine.

The council’s community safety spokesman Cllr Jonathan Cook said: ‘Anyone who lives, works or shops in and around Putney High Street will be mightily relieved to see this unpleasant individual given his marching orders.

‘He deliberately targeted people making cash withdrawals from this cashpoint and was extremely aggressive and abusive to anyone who refused to give him money.

‘Many people felt frightened and intimidated by him and there is some evidence to suggest that he used his dog to threaten and pressure people into handing over their cash.

‘His behaviour was an absolute disgrace. The fact that he was actually living in a comfortable flat in Fulham, something that many of his victims can only dream of, just adds insult to injury.

‘Everyone who has been appalled by Mr Wright’s behaviour will I’m sure wish to congratulate the Thamesfield Safer Neighbourhoods Team, especially PC Oliver Strebel, who was the officer in the case and also the Crown Prosecution Service whose lawyers worked so closely with the police to bring about this very positive result for Putney.’

Read more: Daily Mail