HOSPITAL staff were forced to call 999 after a man, under the influence of drugs, was aggressive towards them.

Police were initially called to Worcestershire Royal Hospital to reports that a man was ‘attacking paramedics,’ a court heard.

When officers arrived James Gibson, was being restrained, and they left after he appeared to have calmed down.

However, they were forced to return after he turned aggressive and was shouting at staff.

Gibson, a persistent thief, admitted causing a nuisance at the hospital along with a theft of a coat from Mountain Warehouse at Worcester Magistrates Court.

Gibson, aged 38, appeared via videolink from prison.

Kerry Lovegrove, prosecuting, described Gibson as a ‘regular’ to the hospital, and known to staff.

She described how police were first called to the hospital amid reports a man was attacking paramedics.

Officers were forced to return and restrain him after being called back to the hospital through a 999 call.

Miss Lovegrove said: “The behaviour was of concern to patients, who were sick and ill and were waiting to be treated.”

When interviewed by police, Gibson, who has an extensive criminal record and is serving a three year sentence for burglary at HMP Hewell, told officers that the reason for his behaviour was that he had been “spiked with mamba.”

Paul Stanley, defending, said Gibson, formerly of Arboretum Road, Worcester, had been under the influence of drugs during the hospital incident, but he accepted the behaviour was wrong which was why he was entering a guilty plea.

On the theft, which happened in April, Mr Stanley said Gibson stole the £79 coat as he was planning to later sell it to buy food.

Magistrates gave Gibson a five day jail sentence for the theft, to run concurrently with his sentence.

There was no separate penalty given for causing a nuisance at the hospital, which happened on June 15.

Gibson, who served a prison sentence last year, will also have to pay £115 victim surcharge, which is to be added to his outstanding balance owed to the court. Gibson appeared in court on Thursday.