A mother has complained to the Corporation of Hamilton after her young daughter was accosted and hassled for money by aggressive beggar Eugene (Jinx) Darrell.

Corporation secretary Roger Sherratt said it was just one of many examples proving Mr. Darrell was continuing to bother locals and tourists on Front Street.

Mr. Sherratt said the woman did not wish to prosecute because she did not want to put her middle school daughter through the ordeal, but she said the youngster had been left shaken by the incident.

She said her daughter was alone on Front Street when she was grabbed by the arm by Mr. Darrell, who demanded cash.

She managed to wriggle free and run away, and reported the incident immediately when she got to school.

A Bermudian barman, who did not wish to be named, also told how he chased Mr. Darrell away after seeing him bother two elderly visitors on Front Street on Tuesday night.

He said he was parking his car on Front Street, just before going to meet friends for dinner, when he heard a worker from Bermuda Monetary Authority shout out of a window to Mr. Darrell, telling him to leave the visitors alone.

"He was still harassing them, so then I went over and told him to leave them alone," said the Southampton barman. "I asked them if he had bothered them, and they said no, but that they were a bit shaken up. They hadn't given him any money.

"But it made me feel terrible. He's a nuisance. I'm a proud Bermudian. These tourists are our livelihood."

Mr. Sherratt said he met with Police and lawyers on Tuesday to discuss the begging problem in Hamilton and was assured that action would be taken, provided people wanted to prosecute.

He added: "If people are willing to make a complaint that he has actually assaulted them in any way, and that means touching them, or if he intimidates them, a consideration could be taken by Police to prosecute him, not only for begging but for more serious offences, possibly even robbery.

"If he was to be put on probation for these kinds of offences, then the terms of his probation could include that he stay away from certain areas, like Front Street or the City of Hamilton.

"It's concerning because we are approaching the start of the tourism season and the problem just seems to get worse."