Patient who spat at Shrewsbury hospital nurses jailed

Andrew Lesley, who has the liver condition Hepatitis C, deliberately bit the inside of his mouth before spitting at a nurse and a security guard.

The staff called in police when their efforts to restrain him failed when he turned on the team trying to treat him for a drug overdose on August 28 last year. He verbally abused them and used racist language during the incident.

Mr Philip Beardmore, prosecuting barrister, said: “Lesley was being treated at Shrewsbury hospital for a potential drug overdose. It was believed that he had overdosed on medication that could have proved fatal if not treated.

“He started to lash out at staff who restrained him. They were losing control due to his behaviour. He swore at them calling a doctor offensive names. The police were called and he was restrained.

“Following sugar tests his levels were found to be normal.

Bite

“He began to lash out again and tried to bite the security guard and again called the staff names. He deliberately spat at a nurse and the spital landed inside her mouth. He also spat at the security guard and some landed on the back of his head. While one of the police officers was caught in the face.

“He told them he had Hepatitis C and he hoped they all died.

“While he was being restrained he kicked out at the officers narrowly missing them. They deployed a spit hood.

"After he was arrested he was found to have a small amount of cannabis for personal use in his clothing.

“During his police interview he said he could offer no explanation as to why he behaved so aggressively and said he could not recall the assaults.”

Mr Ekwall Tiwana, mitigating barrister, said Lesley, of Montrose Place, Bicton Heath, Shrewsbury, had grown up in care and had issues from a young age.

He had the conditions ADHD, bi-polar disorder and had suffered a serious head injury.

“This is really his last chance. Prison would be an easy option for him, but it would not treat him fro his problems”, Mr Tiwana said.

Duty

The 48-year-old admitted offences of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, racially aggravated harassment, assaulting a police officer in the executing of their duty, assault by beating, and possession of cannabis at an earlier hearing.

Sentencing him Mr Recorder Gareth Evans QC told Lesley: “You seem to have problems with the police and authority. What happened clearly crosses the custody threshold.

“There was a time while you were being treated when you were not responsible for what you were doing. Then you came round and you were spitting at people, telling them that you had hepatitis C. You behaved disgracefully.

“I have come to the conclusion that you are going to prison today. I will not suspend the term.”

Lesley, who has previous convictions for similar matters, was jailed for a total of 18 months for the offences and must serve half the term.