We have our fair share of con artists out there, but none of them own a sports car – or at least, we don’t think they do. But when residents realised a local persistent beggar in the town of Newquay, Cornwall owned an Audi TT, he received death threats. A regular on the begging scene, Matthew Brinton – along with his border collie, Hazel – was captured on film loading his possessions into the car. But the 35-year-old responded, saying that the car was given to him by his grandmother.

People are assuming too much and I’m getting a lot of abuse, which is pushing me to suicide.