Prolific offender burgled Furness General Hospital

Graham Colin Parker was jailed for 18 weeks after he trespassed into a room set aside for staff on Ward 7 and stole a mobile phone and a laptop.

The 58-year-old admitted burglary when he appeared before South Cumbria Magistrates' Court.

The court was told the incident happened on October 19.

Parker was also sentenced to an extra three weeks in custody for failing to comply with a community order.

In sending Parker to prison, magistrates said the offence was so serious that 'only a custodial sentence can be justified'.

Court papers said: "The defendant has a flagrant disregard for court orders, for people and their property."

Magistrates said Parker had gone into the room with the intention to steal items, which were high value and belonged to the NHS.

They said there was evidence of 'ransacking' and noted his 'extensive history of offending including offences of dishonesty'.

The court said he had a 'significant history' of failing to comply with court orders.

There was no loss or damage to property as a result of the burglary, magistrates said.

Parker, of Low White Close in Barrow, has a criminal recording stretching to more than 350 offences.

He was previously in court for another incident at FGH.

He was said to have deliberately blocked the emergency vehicle from leaving hospital after he had been there for treatment.

He admitted causing a nuisance on NHS premises and a separate charge of assault.

South Cumbria Magistrates' Court heard he was lying in front of the ambulance when he needed to attend an emergency.

Parker was also convicted at the time of assaulting an Asda security guard following a similar incident the next day.

Parker was previously made subject of a court order banning him from being drunk in public.

He breached the criminal behaviour order at least 10 times after it was imposed in 2019 after he was seen intoxicated in public places a number of times.