A homeless man has been released from Exeter Prison to live in a tent in sub-zero temperatures after his solicitor told a judge that he likes cold weather.
Mark Copperwaite has spent three months in custody after he threatened two security guards with a knife when they found him sleeping rough in a car park.
He will be released immediately without anywhere to go despite Exeter Crown Court being told he is homeless, hopeless, and has refused the help of the mental health service.
He is suffering from a sociopathic dissocial personality disorder, a drug-induced psychosis, and has been described by a psychiatrist as 'a deeply troubled and hopeless man'.
In the past he was a resident at an adult care facility but has now rejected help from the health service.
Copperwaite, aged 43, admitted affray and was jailed for 24 weeks by Recorder Rufus Taylor. He will be released immediately because he has been in custody since October.
He told him: "There has been a long history of mental health service involvement but there is no evidence of serious mental illness. You are said to have a long term, disruptive, self-centred behaviour.
"There is no option but custody but this sentence will result in you being released today or the very near future."
Nigel Wraith, prosecuting, said two security men were trying to move Copperwaite out of the Beacon Quay car park in Torquay so they could lock up when he opened a multi-tool device and threatened them with a penknife.
He walked to within 10 feet of them before turning and walking away. He was arrested by police nearby.
Paul Dentith, defending, said: "This man is homeless and hopeless. He reacted badly to being asked to move on from where he was sleeping.
"In the past he has been in a care home at Alpine Lodge and the mental health services are keen to work with him but he does not appear capable of engaging with them.
"He has been spoken to by the prison service about getting assistance with housing but says he has been saving up from his benefits to buy a tent."
When the judge commented that he would find it a bit cold Mr Dentith replied: "Apparently he quite likes the cold."
