Man kicked off at hospital and police station

A man found slumped unconscious on a Bannockburn doorstep later abused hospital staff when taken there by police.

Kieran Saunders had admitted a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at Forth Valley Royal Hospital on June 13 last year and shouting, swearing and struggling violently with police officers.

The 27-year-old had been heavily under the influence of drugs at the time of the offence.

At Stirling Sheriff Court on Wednesday, fiscal depute Lindsey Brooks said officers had been called out to Wallace Street, Bannockburn, at 9.25am following reports of a male lying on a doorstep. When police attended they spotted the male who was unconscious but breathing.

They attempted to wake him. Saunders did respond, but found it difficult to speak due to his intoxicated condition.

An ambulance was summoned and Saunders became aggressive towards police officers, said Ms Brooks.

The requested ambulance was cancelled then officers took the accused to Forth Valley Royal Hospital in their vehicle. On arrival Saunders was put in a room where he went to sleep, said the fiscal depute. He was later taken to a cubicle in Accident and Emergency.

However, Saunders became aggressive to a nurse carrying out an initial assessment on him.

He had to be pinned down by officers, said Ms Brooks. Saunders also became aggressive to a doctor attending to him.

After he was examined he was discharged. He was then taken to Falkirk Police Office holding area where he put his feet on a bench and kicked out at a wall.

He was again pinned down by officers. Saunders was taken to a cell by three officers and struggled violently with them. Saunders spat over the corridor, and a spit guard had to be applied.

His agent Ken Dalling told Sheriff

William Gilchrist that Saunders had not offended since the incident.

He had also secured his own tenancy – in Ritchie Place, Callander – and was supported by his family.

Referring to a report prepared for the court, Mr Dalling said he had no doubt his client had underlying mental health difficulties. He said: “At the time of this incident he was in self-destruct mode. Something has to be done to break that cycle.”

Sheriff William Gilchrist pointed out that Saunders had been “substantially” under the influence of “illicit substances” at the time of the offence.

He added: “I’m told you have stopped using these substances and there has been no further offending since June when this incident occurred.”

He sentenced Saunders to a community payback order comprising 12 months’ supervision.

He also imposed a restriction of liberty order for four months confining Saunders to his home between the hours of 9pm and 7am each day. A review was set for April 8.