Man cut own neck in doctors surgery

A St Leonards man desperate for stronger medication cut his own neck and arm in his doctors surgery.

John Templeton, 42, of Mull, admitted being in possession of a knife at Alison Lea Medical Centre in Calderwood on May 11 when he appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

He went on to plead guilty to behaving in an aggressive or abusive manner and cutting his arm and neck with the knife.

Fiscal depute Imran Bashir told the court Templeton turned up at the medical centre shortly after 5pm and after demanding to speak to a doctor was told to go into a GP’s room and wait.

The fiscal went on: “The accused told a doctor that he wished for the dosage of his prescription to be increased but the GP refused.

“At this point the accused became aggressive and reached into his right trouser pocket and brought out a Stanley knife before cutting his left forearm and the left side of his neck.

“The doctor left the room and police were contacted.

“Officers arrived a short time later and immediately made their way to the doctor’s treatment room and observed the accused.

“They observed he had superficial cuts to his forearm and neck.

“Officers asked if he was in possession of a knife and he once again said that he had a Stanley knife but discarded it in a bin which was in the room.

“The accused was arrested and taken to Hairmyres Hospital where he was treated for the superficial wounds and spoken to by medical staff, who confirmed he was fit to be detained, and was then taken to the police station where he made no reply.”

Templeton’s defence lawyer told the court his client was on prescribed medication for seizures; that he had mental health problems and was trying to beat a heroin addiction.

The lawyer went on:“He had went to the doctors asking for stronger medication knowing he would be refused so had taken the Stanley knife to get some sort of attention.

“When walking to the doctors surgery he did consume some alcohol as he knew what he was going to do.”

Sentence was deferred until August 3 for reports and Templeton’s bail was continued.