Jail for Kelowna prolific offender who got naked in hotel hot tub

Prolific offender Justin Wayne Collins had only been out of prison for three days when he snuck under the fence at Delta Grand Hotel in Kelowna, stripped naked and jumped in the hot tub.

A guest heading to the outdoor hot tub with her kids saw him, and staff kicked him out.

Two weeks later, Collins was back at the hotel’s coffee shop stealing from them.

Staff believed he’d urinated on the floor and smoked crack in the bathroom, and after he came by for a third day, they’d had enough.

A staff member locked the door, barring the 49-year-old from coming in. He stood at the door yelling and eventually walked away before the police arrived.

He was arrested soon afterwards and has remained in custody since.

“Since January 2022, he’s never lasted out of jail for more than 40 days without committing a new offence,” Crown prosecutor Nicholas Lerfold told a Kelowna courtroom, July 3. “(He) averages a criminal offence every… six days.”

In 2022, Collins became the poster boy for prolific offenders in Kelowna, repeating a cycle of committing crimes almost immediately after being released.

The RCMP once said he was “simply unwilling to stop committing crime” and he’d generated more than 400 files.

Lerfold told the court he had 66 criminal convictions, including an “array” of violent and property offences. In the last four-and-a-half years, he’s only managed five months out of prison.

“I count three robberies, an attempted robbery, seven assaults, including two causing bodily harm, one with a weapon, a break-and-enter, a theft of a motor vehicle,” the Crown said. 

Adding to the list are numerous convictions for uttering threats, mischief, shoplifting and breaching probation. He’s banned from every Starbucks in the province.

One of the convictions Collins pleaded guilty to was stealing the cushion from a mini-couch off the counter at the TD Bank on Ellis Street. The replica mini-couch is given to staff as an award, and the cushion has no value or use.

He was once convicted of masturbating and defecating in the Kelowna courthouse parking lot.

“This is an individual who spends very little time in the community to commit a lot of offences,” the Crown said.

Defence lawyer Melissa Lowe highlighted Collins’ struggles with homelessness, addiction, bipolar disorder, ADHD and a brain injury.

“Mr. Collins is somebody who has very little support in the community. He’s been banned from all local housing options, social assistance offices, urban outreach,” the Crown said.

In a joint submission to the court, lawyers argued for 100 days jail, counting for time already served in custody.

Speaking to the court, Collins came over far more eloquently than in previous appearances.

“Over the time that I’ve been in custody, I’ve actually taken a really big step in changing my mental pattern and thought cycle and processing everything and actually identifying the reasons why I think they’re happening,” he said. “I’m working with the addiction counsellors here… and it’s actually benefiting me.”

Collins said the treatment had taken him to a place where change was an actual reality.

“I have to be accountable for my actions,” he told the court.

BC Provincial Court Judge Dennis Ferbey said he was encouraged to hear that Collins was making progress and sentenced him to 100 days jail, followed by 18 months’ probation.