Jail for drunk and aggressive Castledawson man who 'got into face' of hospital doctor
A drunk and aggressive patient who "got into the face" of a hospital doctor after being found at the side of the road, has been jailed.
The 30-year-old was sentenced on an assault charge and for being in possession of methylmethcathinone on August 12, 2024.
Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena, was told the defendant, Dean Booth, of Moyola Gardens, Castledawson, had a previous record.
A prosecutor told an earlier court police received a report of an "aggressive and intoxicated patient" in the Emergency Department at Antrim Area Hospital.
A doctor said the defendant "got up in his face" putting him in fear of being assaulted. The doctor saw suspected drugs fall from the defendant's pocket.
Booth had penned a letter of apology to the doctor.
A defence lawyer told the earlier court the defendant had been out for the evening and had too much to drink and had "little memory" of what happened.
"He was found at the side of the road on the Glenshane Pass" and "taken to hospital as a patient by ambulance".
The lawyer said his client said he had been "given something" to revive him after being unconscious in an ambulance and when he "woke up acted entirely erratically".
He said it was a "technical assault" but added: "The court will still take a very dim view of any form of assault, even technical, on a hard working public servant".
District Judge Nigel Broderick had told the earlier court that normally for such an offence courts will consider immediate jail.
Whilst there had been no physical assault he told the defendant "I have no doubt the doctor and those present in the hospital would have been very concerned and apprehensive about your inappropriate behaviour."
The judge had noted that what appeared to be a "heartfelt" letter of apology would be passed on to the doctor.
At the earlier court the judge said Community Service was a "direct alternative" to prison and had ordered the defendant to do 180 hours Community Service.
However, the defendant has now appeared back at the court, via video link from prison, for failing to complete the Community Service. He only did 28 of the 180 hours.
He had 87 previous convictions. Judge Broderick revoked the Community Service and replaced it with a three-month jail term.