A man who poses as a rough sleeper, but lives in a London flat, says he chooses to beg because he earns far more than he would by getting a job.
Ed Stafford meets a man named Darren, who he believes to be homeless, in tonight's Channel 4 programme 60 Days on the Streets.
But Darren soon admits that after he makes his money for the day - usually around £100 - he goes back to his Brixton flat for a shower and a warm meal.
On particularly fruitful days, he can make as much as £600 by targeting tipsy pub-goers who are feeling generous.
The supposed rough sleeper also admits to getting benefits, and admits it's a more lucrative lifestyle than taking on an £8-an-hour cleaning job.
Ed, a former army captain and Amazon trekker, spent two months being homeless in Glasgow, Manchester, and London for the TV experiment, and this week's episode sees him explore why so many homeless gravitate to the capital - and if they're all genuine.
He also encounters Neil who claims to make £30 in half an hour begging and boasts of owning a two-bedroom house in Dartford.
Ed Stafford (pictured) spent two months being homeless in Glasgow, Manchester, and London for a TV experiment. Tonight's episode of 60 Days on the Streets sees him examine the phenomenon of fake beggars
After Darren (pictured) makes his money for day he goes back to his Brixton flat for a shower and a warm meal. The supposed rough sleeper also admits to getting benefits
'I do feel a bit of a c*** not being homeless,' he admits. 'I’m a drug addict – I’ve got to feed it somehow.'
The episode doesn't start off well for former soldier Ed, when some homeless men find out that he's filming the documentary. Another woman shouts abuse at him for posing as a homeless man.
To begin with, he finds it tough to find anywhere to bed down for the night as the streets and doorways are all full of rough sleepers.
After two hours of searching he finds a vacant spot, but after waking up realises he sleeping where someone has urinated.
The next day he manages to befriend Darren who allows him to take a spot in Charing Cross with him.
Ed Stafford meets what he thinks is homeless man Darren in tonight Channel 4 programme 60 Days on the Streets
Darren, a rough sleeper, admits that his offered £8 an hour for a cleaning job, but can earn £100 begging
Giving him tips about how to look after yourself on the street and how best to make money from strangers, they bond over how to make money and keep warm.
'Make sure you position yourself against a wall, Darren says, 'put your property behind you no one can steal it.'
'If you get pound
