‘Jekyll and Hyde’ teen assaulted PRI staff
A “Jekyll and Hyde” teenager attacked three different members of staff during an explosion of violence at Perth Royal Infirmary.
Eighteen-year-old Christopher Simpson had collapsed and police had gone to the city’s Stanley Crescent at the request of ambulance workers.
An officer accompanied paramedics as he was taken to hospital but absolute mayhem followed at the Accident and Emergency Department.
The red mist came down and he first kicked a member of the medical staff on the shoulder as she went to take the accused’s blood pressure.
A staff nurse went to assist but Simpson, said to have alcohol and drug difficulties, sat up and shouted: “Do you want a square go?”
He then threw two punches in the direction of that nurse’s head, knocking off and damaging his spectacles, depute fiscal Sean Maher told the court.
Another three members of staff tried to restrain him but he started to spit at them.
Attempts were made to place a face mask on him but he then sank his teeth into one nurses hand.
Police were summoned using the 999 system but in the interim he continued to shout, stating: “I’ll slit all your throats.”
The accused, of Castleview Crescent, Abernethy, was spared detention at Perth Sheriff Court last week despite already undertaking a community payback order, imposed earlier as a “direct alternative” to custody.
Sheriff Neil Bowie condemned the accused’s behaviour.
“This is rightly described as an appalling course of conduct.
“Nurses are there to help you and this probably took place at the height of stressful and busy working conditions for them.
“This was disgraceful behaviour, punching and biting members of the caring profession.”
Simpson had another community payback order imposed. He will be supervised for two years and will have to complete 225 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.
He will be restricted to his home from 7am-7pm for the next six months and was also ordered to pay £200 compensation to the nurse for damaging his glasses.
He admitted punching one staff nurse and damaging his glasses, biting another staff nurse and kicking a third.
Further charges of shouting, swearing, spitting and making violent threats were also admitted.
All of the offences took place at PRI on May 30, 2020, while he was subject to a December 5, 2019, bail order from the Perth court.
In addition, Simpson was put on the Right Track scheme for punching a customer on the face in The Bank Bar, South Methven Street, Perth, on July 25, 2020, and hurling abuse at him.
Solicitor Billy Somerville said his client had “no recollection” of the events at the hospital.
Fortunately the skin had not been broken when he bit the nurse.
“He’s genuinely embarrassed and ashamed of his actions.”
He added: “He does seem to have an alcohol problem.
“When not drinking he’s pleasant, quiet and polite.
“When he takes drink, however, clearly he becomes someone totally different, like a Jekyll and Hyde character.”
A background report indicated that he would continue to pose a danger to others unless he moderated his use of alcohol and ended his relationship with substances.
The accused’s progress on Right Track, set up to keep youngsters on the straight and narrow, will be reviewed on April 7.
He’s genuinely embarrassed and ashamed of his actions.When not drinking he’s pleasant, quiet and polite