A HOMELESS man's head was set on fire as he slept in a shopping centre.

The 51-year-old awoke to find his head and face covered in flames and saw a man running away having stolen his rucksack.

Community leaders have condemned the "despicable" attack in Royal Arcade, Worthing after the homeless man, who has not been publicly named, was left with burns to his cheek, eye lids and head

Despite being set on fire he got up and tried to chase his attacker, who he described as a white man aged in his twenties.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and bailed while police, who are appealing for witnesses, continue to investigate.

Conservative councillor Paul Westover, whose Central ward covers Royal Arcade, said: "I think it's despicable to set somebody on fire and I am actually quite shocked that it's happened.

"And in the arcade as well - it's right opposite the pier in the heart of town. As the nights are drawing in and getting colder I would have thought it would be a common place to find individuals sleeping rough. It is very sad."

Earlier this year a man sleeping rough in Western Road, Brighton, had his sleeping bag set fire to.

Figures show homeless people are far more likely to be victims of violence than the general population.

Rachel Blair, a senior community fundraiser at Worthing Churches Homeless Projects, which has set up the Worthing Winter Night Shelter, said of the latest attack: "It's terrifying - homeless people are some of the most vulnerable people in our community, although I don't think they are always seen that way.

"It's just shocking that people think that's acceptable. Just shock and despair, really. How can that even enter someone's head? It's just the epitome of kicking someone when they are down."

Worthing Churches has worked with more than 1,000 people over the past year, in the town and surrounding areas, who are homeless or at risk of becoming so, and Ms Blair said more housing was needed.

Coun Westover said help was available for homeless people if they wanted it, adding: "The council is trying to push forward more developments to alleviate the housing crisis."

Anyone who can help police investigating the attack, which happened at around 7am on Sunday, is asked to get in touch via sussex.police.uk/contact-us/response-to-appeal/ quoting serial 273 of November 6.

USE OF PSPOS FOR BEGGARS IS CRITICISED

WORTHING was at the centre of huge controversy earlier this year when councillors voted to give the local authority the power to fine beggars in the town centre.

They can now be punished under Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs), a relatively new national power aimed at dealing with anti-social behaviour, including street drinking, in certain areas.

Begging is already an offence under the Vagrancy Act, but PSPOs can be enforced by council officers or community safety officers.

The move was approved in April despite a petition launched by the Worthing People’s Assembly, a grassroots anti-austerity group, that collected 5,000 signatures.

A spokesperson for the People’s Assembly said at the time: “We are all just a few events away from homelessness. PSPOs will not help homeless people, but give them a criminal record, making it harder to find jobs and rental accommodation.”

Yesterday, Worthing councillor Paul Westover, central ward, told The Argus he did not think a fine would be issued to a homeless person using a PSPO, but they could help people.

He said: “What they provide is the support and help for officers to go and help these people. There are three stages of support and then maybe the threat of a fine if they carry on, persist in doing what they are doing.”

Civil liberties group Liberty has also criticised the use of PSPOs against homeless people begging, saying: “If somebody is forced to beg or spend the night in a public toilet, that’s not a lifestyle choice or anti-social behaviour – that’s extreme poverty.

“Local authorities should focus on finding ways to help the most vulnerable, not criminalise them and slap them with fines they can’t possibly pay.”