Alcoholic bizarrely offers court bench flowers after South Tyneside Hospital drug altercation
South Tyneside Magistrates’ bench were offered flowers by a Sunderland alcoholic after he was handed a fine for his behaviour.
A Sunderland alcoholic who abused staff at a take-away and a hospital two days apart offered magistrates flowers after they fined him for the offences.
John Weatherald, 56, pulled the red blooms from his bag and asked the three-lady bench at the South Tyneside court, “Would you like a flower?”
They politely declined, having moments earlier punished him to the tune of £141 in fines and other sanctions for his misdemeanours.
The court heard Weatherald, of Roker Avenue, Roker, kicked up a fuss in the New Hong Kong Chinese restaurant in Hylton Road, Sunderland, at 7.45pm on Thursday, April 23.
He did so after he ordered a takeaway and then accused staff of serving him the wrong dish.
When they refused to change it, he got into a verbal spat and urinated through his pants onto a table, prosecutor Glenda Beck said.
Two days later, he caused a ruckus when he turned up at South Tyneside District Hospital seeking medication.
When doctors refused to give him drugs usually issued by his GP for mental health issues, he swore and shouted and attempted to lash out.
Of the restaurant offence, Mrs Beck said: “Staff requested police assistance regarding a male who was refusing to leave.
“He urinated into his jeans while sitting on the side of the table. He was refusing to leave and had a verbal dispute with staff.”
Mrs Beck added: “Police attended the South Tyneside hospital on April 25, following a request for assistance.
“He was identified as being drunk and he was shouting and swearing and attempted to lash out at staff. He was cautioned and arrested.”
Ian Cassidy, defending Weatherald, who pleaded guilty to two counts of being drunk and disorderly, said: “The only thing he doesn’t accept is the lashing out.
“He accepts he is an alcoholic and has long standing issues with alcohol. He went to the restaurant for a meal and the one brought was not what he had ordered.
“He had medication, but his GP had not redone it for some mental health issues he has.
“He went to the hospital to see if they could issue him with that. He accepts some verbal behaviour.”
Magistrates fined Weatherald £40, with £85 court costs and a £16 victim surcharge.