Homeless man broke anti-slavery law 3 times, court told

Robert Chinchen, 37, climbed into a residential property in Queen Street, Scarborough, through a window at 3.20am, returned to the house at 7.30am four days later and seven days earlier he had been seen at a house in Elders Street, Scarborough, said Laura Peto, prosecuting.

York Crown Court heard he was forbidden to go to both properties under a slavery and trafficking risk order made by Scarborough magistrates in October last year after police convinced them he had been using violence and intimidation to get accommodation and vulnerable people needed protecting from him, the court heard.

Hours after police attended the Queen Street property, Chinchen was seen on the railway tracks at Scarborough Railway Station, claimed he had poured acetone over himself and threatened to set himself on fire.

Police persuaded him to leave the railway without carrying out his threat and arrested him, said Ms Peto.

Defence barrister Nick Peacock said: “He is homeless. He is attending properties where his friends live and trying to secure somewhere to live. Until this man gets somewhere to live these problems are going to persist.”

Chinchen, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to three breaches of the order.

He has previous convictions for breaching the order, one committed on the day it was made, the court heard.

He was jailed for 32 months.

Mr Peacock said Chinchen had mental health problems, probably linked to his drug use.

“It is for this man to sort himself out,” he said.

“He has behaved himself while in custody. He has not taken drugs in prison.”

Chinchen was taking steps to improve himself while in custody.

Ms Peto said Chinchen was arrested on June 30 following a disturbance at the Elder Street house and released on bail.

On July 3, CCTV filmed him and another man outside the Queen Street house at 3.20am.

One man was on the shoulders of the other, opening a window and climbing in.

On July 7, CCTV caught Chinchen and two other men at the same house.

The slavery and trafficking risk order remains in force until the end of October 2030.

 Inspector Craig Regan, of the Scarborough neighbourhood policing team, said: “We welcome the prison sentence that has been handed to Robert Chinchen.

“It is the result of excellent police work and outstanding community partnership that we have built in Scarborough.

“This outcome sends a warning to others who target, manipulate, intimidate, and exploit vulnerable people. We will work with our partners and use every available power to rid you from our communities.”