Local busker is jailed for three years.

The town’s regular busker ‘Billy the Busker’ has been sentenced by crown court last week after being described as a ‘prolific offender’.

William ‘Billy’ Farrell, 63, has 54 convictions for 105 offences, committed since 1963, was sentenced by a jury at York Crown Court of breaking into the basement of a Scarborough house and assault with intent to resist his apprehension by the householder.

The incident goes back to April 17 of last year when Farrell was confronted by householder Anthony Gibbon after he heard noises coming from the basement of his Queen Street home.

Mr Gibbon investigated to find that Farrell was inside the cellar, piling up bags of hand tools and other items ready for removal, and challenged him.

Attempts by Mr Gibbon to the intruder at the scene failed, only resulting in a bout of pushing and scuffling, but Farrell was recognised by neighbours and witnesses alerted by the commotion as “Billy the Busker”.

Passing sentence, the Recorder of York, Judge Stephen Ashurst, told Farrell that he was “not persuaded that he was a harmless eccentric, but remained a prolific offender”.