A man who broke into grounds of Buckingham Palace, where Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II lives, while carrying a kitchen knife inside an envelope has managed to avoid going to jail.
Cameron Kalani, 44, was seen by security guards scaling the fence and entering The Royal Mews on 10 May last year. He was then arrested after climbing back onto Buckingham Palace Road.
Kalani has now pleaded guilty to trespassing on a protected site, possession of a bladed article and possession of a wrap of cocaine.
However, he was spared from being thrown into jail as he was handed a 24-week sentence that has been suspended for 12 months at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday 9 February.
Prosecutor Alex Alawode said: "He seemed to climb over the fence into the mews and then back over again to Buckingham Palace Road," he said. "At the time, the defendant was described as appearing to be confused, not knowing where he was or what was happening."
The court heard how Kalani suffers from "schizoaffective disorder" and was sent to a psychiatric hospital for treatment following the incident and his subsequent arrest.
In his statement, he explained how he remembered the day as he shared: "On 9 May 2021 I travelled to London by train from my home in Sussex in what I would describe as a state of psychosis. My intention for coming to London was to be arrested.
"I felt I was a burden and would be better off in prison. I packed my bag with a knife and what I believed to be a small bag of ketamine to enhance my chances of being arrested.
"I did not sleep and rode the bus for hours. I came across a sign on a fence which said something like DO NOT CLIMB. This reminded me of my purpose. I climbed the fence. I did not know it was connected to Buckingham Palace Gardens.
"I had not slept and was in a state of crisis. I didn't understand the sign was for Buckingham Palace Gardens. I accept that a reasonable person would have cause to expect that the site was a protected site. I wish to plead guilty on that basis. My sole intention was to be arrested. I did not seek to do anyone harm or damage property."
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Deputy District Judge Roy Brown said he didn't accept that Kalani was carrying a weapon "just to get arrested" as he shared: "There are easier locations to attend if you want to draw the attention of the police."
However, he added that Kalani's behaviour at the time was "largely due to your psychiatric state."
In addition to his suspended sentence, Kalani has been ordered to attend a 30-day rehabilitation programme and is not allowed to enter the SW1A postcode area during this time. He was also ordered to pay £213 in costs.
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