A MAN with mental health problems threatened paramedics as he lashed out in a hospital A&E department.

Daniel Harding, aged 21, of Rydal Close, Warndon, Worcester, admitted a section five public order offence when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court.

District judge Nigel Cadbury told him many members of the public would say he did not deserve treatment because of the way he behaved. Public order offences describe those who ‘use threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour within the sight or hearing of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress’. The court was told how Harding had been drinking in Worcester city centre and was involved in an incident of anti-social behaviour which led to him being removed from premises by doorstaff before the incident on March 24.

Kerry Lovegrove, prosecuting, said Harding complained of feeling unwell and said he wanted to go to hospital, getting in an ambulance.

Miss Lovegrove said: “Paramedics started to conduct an assessment of him and he began swearing and displaying aggressive behaviour.” At this point police decided to escort the ambulance. “He continued to make threats towards police and the ambulance crews and to swear profusely at the hospital,” Miss Lovegrove told the court. “This would have caused harassment, alarm or distress to those in the general area and the crew in A&E. He was told on numerous occasions to stop swearing. “He was swearing and lashing out at any person near him. People in A&E were clearly shocked and alarmed.” Harding, who represented himself, said he had not been out of the house since September last year due to mental health issues and had received home visits.

He said, as an exception, he decided to go out for a friend’s birthday but had not had much to drink. “I think my anxiety kicked in a bit. I feel like a prat for it,” he said.

He said his actions could have been caused by mixing his medication with alcohol.

The judge told Harding that if he had assaulted anyone he would be sending him to prison but decided not to activate a suspended sentence of 12 weeks imposed last June which included supervision.

Fining him £70 and awarding £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge and extending the length of an existing supervision order from 18 months to 24 months, Mr Cadbury said: “It is totally unacceptable for anyone, even if they have mental health issues, to behave in that way towards the people who are trying to help, be it paramedics, police or doorstaff. “A lot of people out there in the general public would say somebody like you doesn’t deserve to be looked after by the NHS if you’re going to treat the staff like that.”