Sheriff in hospital warning

A Perthshire man who caused mayhem in an accident and emergency ward at Perth Royal Infirmary was warned this week that such disgraceful incidents were becoming far too common.

And Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told 31-year-old Mark Wishart that the time might come when he might have to jail those responsible, regardless of their age, background and record - or lack of one.

“Perhaps it’s the only way to give both patients and staff respite from such disorderly and senseless behaviour,” he stormed.

Perth Sheriff Court was told on Wednesday that the accused had been found with a head injury in Perth city centre around 4am.

He was taken by ambulance to hospital where he was treated by a

It was a robbery in all but name. It’s really quite a despicable offence - Sheriff Lindsay Foulis

nurse and placed in a side ward.

“There were no issues at that time,” according to depute fiscal Craig Donald.

But after he returned from the toilet his demeanour changed totally.

He began shouting and swearing, upsetting other patients, and refused to calm down.

At one point he removed a bandage from his head wound and threw it into a nearby cubicle which contained another patient.

A torrent of swear words followed and the police were contacted.

When officers arrived, he was standing in the doorway to the ward, still mouthing off.

He struggled with several officers as they took hold of him before he was successfully apprehended.

When he was cautioned and charged at Perth Police HQ, he replied: “I can’t remember.”

Wishart, formerly of Sauchob Crescent, Methven, and now Paradise Place, Bridge of Earn, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, removing the dressing from his head wound and struggling with officers at PRI on August 20.

Solicitor Paul Ralph his client was “at a loss” to explain his behaviour.

“He has no memory of getting the head injury or going to hospital. “He’s certainly very contrite today. “He knows that behaving the way he did at the hospital won’t be tolerated.”

Sheriff Foulis ordered the accused, who insisted he hadn’t been under the influence of any drugs, to carry out a Community Payback Order.

He will have to complete 220 hours of unpaid work within six months as an alternative to a jail sentence.

“There is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for this behaviour,” blasted the sheriff.

“It’s a far too frequent occurrence the bill for this criminal behaviour: charge 1 - £200; charge 2 - £500; charge 3 - £318; charge 4 - £250; charge 5 - £1,000.

That made a total of £2,268, he told Sheriff Lindsay Foulis.

Sentence was further deferred until January 4 for the report, as well as for an interpreter to be present.

He had his bail continued meantime.