A Leeds man who sleeps in bushes and begs for change outside an Asda has spoken out about his life.
Mick Thompson, 55, can be seen begging by the entrance of the Asda in Harehills Lane.
“I need some money for electric,” he says, while asking shoppers to part with their change.
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At the time of speaking to LeedsLive, Mick claimed to have 20p to his name.
He’s currently staying at a friend’s flat in Gipton whilst his friend is on holiday.
But the 55-year-old is often sleeping rough. When this happens, he chooses to sleep in bushes as it is not as cold within the foliage.
Mick, originally from Seacroft, says he suffers from a “psychosis of some kind” which causes forgetfulness and makes him walk on the spot.
He’s found some labouring work, digging up holes to pitch fences, but decided not to turn up and went to Asda instead.
He says there’s lots of “kind and very nice people” who enter the Harehills Lane Asda, which is why he has been returning there for about a week. He’s also commended the security staff there, calling them “good people”.
Mick said: “I’ve had to sleep rough loads of times, it’s b****y cold. I’ve slept in bushes just down here [Harehills Lane], doorways and all over the place.
“It’s very uncomfortable, it’s cold and there’s no mattress. I usually just have a coat to sleep on. The bush just stops the wind and that. I look for any bush that’ll keep me conserved.
“I look for somewhere I can light a campfire, that’s what’s most important.”
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Mick says the best location for a camp fire is Temple Newsam, where he’s slept a couple times.
Mick claims to have been begging for about 10 years since losing his labouring job.
“I was smoking near a blasting site. Its got explosives near it,” he said regretfully, about losing his job.
Mick claims the most he’s received from someone whilst begging is a couple of pounds.
“I like to make friends, not enemies. I go wherever I can,” he said.
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Asda declined to comment.
Last year, Leeds City Council said many of the issues associated with rough sleepers and the homeless remained “extremely challenging” and were committed to doing “everything possible” to offer the best possible support.
The local authority formed a city-wide multi agency team called Leeds Street Support Team to deal with the issues.
If you are concerned for someone on the street, you can report it here .
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