Mentally ill man caught begging at UWI campus

Nicholas Collins, who pleaded guilty to being in a restricted area, was admonished and discharged when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court yesterday.

Collins, 20, was said to be on the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, on April 19, begging money.

"I go up there to ask for money, but I didn't get none that day," he said.

His father, who came into the courtroom on request of the judge, told the court that his son was not mentally stable.

"Judge, he used to go UTech, and from him start follow friend and smoke weed, it mash him up," he said.

Judge Vaughn Smith asked Collins' father if he was able to take control him, to which he replied yes.

"Does he take medication?" Judge Smith asked.

"Yes, Your Honour. I can control him, but sometimes I have to go and get him on the campus," he said.

Smith encouraged the father to continue giving Collins his medication and told them that they both could go home.