A HOMELESS man who received an apology from the council for removing his tent has reported it stolen for a second time.

Denis Martin had pitched his tent on the beach at Banjo Groyne in front of Madeira Drive in Brighton since March.

Last month he found all his belongings were cleared and removed ahead of the London to Brighton Bike Ride while he was in hospital, and received an apology from Brighton and Hove City Council.

Then yesterday the 42-year-old returned to where he had made camp, only to find everything he had worked for was gone.

He had received a notice on his tent from the council ordering him to move off the beach by Wednesday, and suspects the authority has once again removed his things.

But the council has denied Mr Martin’s claim, and said the matter is being treated as theft by the police.

Mr Martin has lived in Brighton since January 2017, and has been clear of his previous addiction to crack cocaine for more than a year.

He said: “I know it’s a bit belligerent, staying back on the same camp site where they served the notice. I was willing to adhere to it, I don’t think they had to remove everything again.

“They can’t keep doing this. They are saying they haven’t touched it. I find that funny because the notice was put up this morning, I’ve gone into town, and when I get back it’s all gone.

“But the beer cans have all been tidied up. What sort of thief tidies up afterwards?

“In the past few months there hasn’t been anyone else messing with my tent, only the council.

“I sleep on the beach, I don’t beg on the streets. I’m trying to get work to earn myself a living, and I’m trying to rebuild my life.

“It’s not a joke, this is reality, and it’s hard.”

Mr Martin said he is trying to get back on his feet, ideally to find work as a painter and decorator.

In June, the council destroyed his tent and belongings, which included his work clothes and new trainers.

The usual policy after taking down a tent is to keep the items in storage for up to 28 days.

It is meant to give people time to recover their belongings.

Mr Martin received an apology and reportedly got £1,500 in compensation to replace his items, which he said barely covered the cost.

He bought a two-man dome tent and sleeping bag, and also had his clothes and shoes there. He has been left with nothing more than the waterproof protective sheet for the sleeping bag.

He added: “It seems that they want you to go to Timbuktu rather than be here. It’s clearly a theft, and this is an emergency for me, all my belongings have gone again.”

A council spokesman aid: “Our officers were not responsible for the removal of the tent. They have spoken with the police who are treating the incident as theft.

“Seafront officers spoke to the occupant of the tent yesterday and issued him with a no camping notice.

They returned this morning and, following procedure, attached a further notice of intention to remove the tent on Wednesday. We have no idea who has taken the tent in the meantime.”