Ex-tutor jailed over drunken fracas at A&E

Alcoholism blamed on family tragedies, court told

A FORMER tutor at one of Scotland’s leading universities has been jailed for more than five-and-a-half months after he was convicted of a series of drunken incidents.

Stewart McDonald caused a fracas at a hospital accident and emergency department, forcing it to be cleared, among a string of incidents after turning to drink to cope with family tragedies.

The 64-year-old, who lost his role at Glasgow University and had been a manager at whisky firm Chivas Regal, lost contact with his children and was living in a council flat due to his alcoholism.

At Paisley Sheriff Court last week, McDonald pleaded guilty to breach of the peace, wasting police time and threatening and abusive behaviour.

The court heard that last month McDonald attended a medical centre in the town where he is registered, demanding to see a doctor despite having no appointment.

Frank Clarke, prosecuting, said: “It was obvious to witnesses in the reception area that he was under the influence of alcohol.

“Because of his behaviour the receptionist told him should he wish he could wait and see if an on-call doctor was available.

“He continued to demand to see a doctor and said, ‘If I don’t see a doctor I’m going to go round to that police station to batter someone’.”

McDonald then left and the police were called but when they arrived at the surgery he was at the local police station.

They spoke to McDonald but, at around 5.15pm, he went back to the surgery, the court heard.

He was asked to leave, refused, and lit a cigarette. He called a patient fat and swore at them. Police were called and McDonald was arrested, but they were unable to caution and charge him because he was so drunk and aggressive.

He was to be sentenced for six cases and was appearing for a Community Payback Order which had been imposed in another case.

The other offences included going to the home of his adult son in February, demanding to be let in and verbally abusing him.

He accused staff at Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) of rape, branded them paedophiles and threatened to attack them in December.

In February this year, he called Police Scotland to tell them he was in pain and was going to stab a paedophile and two officers.

Last year he caused such a fracas at the hospital that the A&E department had to be cleared.

McDonald was sentenced to the order earlier this year for wasting police time and racially abusing a police officer. He phoned police to tell them he had information on their probe into a Government paedophile cover-up, so he could tell officers how much he hates child abusers. He then verbally abused attending officers.

Rhona Lynch, defending, told Sheriff Tom McCartney McDonald was a “very complex and deeply troubled” individual who had become an alcoholic as a coping mechanism for grief following recent family tragedies.

She added: “He is significantly emotionally damaged.

“He has suffered a number of traumatic incidents, including violent abuse as a child.”

Sheriff McCartney jailed McDonald for a total of 180 days.

Sentence was deferred on two of the six cases. He will be expected to carry out his CPO following his release.

It was obvious to witnesses in the reception area that he was under the influence of alcohol