Drunken woman smashed glass door at hospital A&E department
A woman whose ‘Achilles’ heel’ is alcohol booted a fire door at a hospital after being taken there for her own safety and wellbeing.
Heavily intoxicated Rebecca Maddison, 25, kicked out with such force at Sunderland Royal Hospital, the toughened glass smashed.
Maddison, of Ernest Street, Hendon, was found so drunk that police took her to the A&E department, a court was told.
But during unwarranted aggression at 10pm on Thursday, July 8, she verbally abused staff and caused criminal damage.
Magistrates in South
Tyneside heard Maddison was drinking a crate of lager and a bottle of whisky a day around the time of the offence.
Prosecutor Rebecca Gibson explained the case to the court.
She said: “She had been taken to a ward in the Accident and Emergency unit.
“Police had taken her there, due to the fact she was heavily intoxicated.
“While receiving treatment she became verbally abusive towards staff and kicked out at a door, causing it to smash. It was toughened safety glass.
“I would like you to consider compensation of £100. It’s a matter that was committed on impulse.
“She has previous convictions for criminal damage, the
last was in 2018 and was dealt withbyacompensationorder.”
Maddison pleaded guilty to
causingcriminaldamageofunder £5,000.
Greg Flaxen, defending, saidshehadenduredanumber ofhardshipsandhadadmitted the charge without delay.
He said: “It’s a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity.
“It’sgoingtocomeasnosurprise that my client's issue, her Achilles’ heel, is alcohol.
“It was a crate of lager and a bottleofwhiskydailyataround this time. She has been homeless and has sofa-surfed
“My submission would be that it’s a hospital and they deserve their money back, that is undisputed.
“Sheiscurrentlylivingwith her mum at her address and is searching for a more permanent place.”
Magistrates told Maddison her previous offences had led them to increase her punishment.
They fined her £80 and ordered her to pay the hospital £100 compensation, with £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.