"Bad day" - Drunk and abusive Hebburn man kicked police officer in face during hospital assault, court told
South Tyneside magistrates hear it took five police officers to bring drunken Hebburn man under control after he became abusive in hospital.
A South Tyneside man crime free for 26 years but drunk on whisky and “having a bad day” twice kicked a policeman in a hospital treatment room, a court heard.
Steven Purcell, 49, of Devon Road, Hebburn, first hoofed the officer in the face after being taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital as a precaution after his arrest.
Purcell, of Devon Road, Hebburn, refused to calm down inside an emergency room and moments later, on Friday, February 27, kicked the same PC in the chest
It took five officers to finally bring him under control, prosecutor James Rickerby told magistrates in South Tyneside.
In interview Purcell confessed to being so drunk he could recall nothing of his attack, he added.
However, his solicitor insisted his actions may in part have been due to him having a diabetic episode which had led him to consume whisky in the first place.
The court also heard it was unclear if Purcell was wearing shoes when he lashed out, with security footage unable to supply a definitive answer.
Mr Rickerby said: “This defendant was arrested on an unrelated matter.
“He was very intoxicated, to the point where he had to be taken to hospital for treatment.
“While there, his behaviour is described as ‘up and down’, and he was verbally abusive and threatened to spit.
“The assault happened when he attempted to leave the room but was stopped by an officer who put him on the bed.
“He kicked the officer, hitting him on the left side of his face. Another officer also tried to restrain him, but he continued to hit out.
“He was taken to the floor, and he has again kicked the same victim to the chest. It needed another three officers to restrain him.
“When interviewed, he said he couldn’t remember as he was so intoxicated. He was remorseful.”
Purcell pleaded guilty to a charge of assault of a police officer.
In a victim statement, the victim said the kick to his head had left him “stunned and in pain” and had caused bruising.
Chris Wilson, defending, said Purcell had consumed a glass of whisky in a bid to control a diabetes spike.
Mr Wilson revealed his client had then taken a neighbour’s dog for a walk with police being summoned due to an issue while he was out and about.
He added: “He had to be taken to the hospital due to his condition and was in an emergency room.
“In interview, he did not recall kicking out at the officer. The footage is not clear as to whether it was a shod foot or not.
“He has no like offences, and it is 26 years since he last appeared before a court.
“He hasn’t offered any frivolous excuses for this offence, and he is ashamed of his behaviour. He was just having a bad day on this occasion.”
Magistrates ordered Purcell to pay the officer £200 compensation and fined him £320, with a £128 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.