Foul-mouthed patient hurls racist abuse at South Tyneside hospital staff
A security guard was racially abused and nurse sworn at by patient at South Tyneside Hospital.
A foul-mouthed hospital attendee racially abusing a security guard and swore at a nurse in South Tyneside, a court heard.
Lindsay Davison, 31, verbally lashed out at a sister on duty who had told her to stay away from a restricted area off A&E on Friday, December 12.
Davison, of Greenbank, central Jarrow, then rounded on a security guard called to assist at the borough’s district hospital, prosecutor Syed Ali said.
The guard was able to escort her outside and quickly locked the doors behind her, borough magistrates were told.
Davison committed the offence just a fortnight after two suspended sentences she was subject to expired, removing the threat of immediate custody.
Mr Ali said: “A sister was on duty in A&E when she saw the defendant come in via the ambulance door and immediately turn into another area.
“She was told that she couldn’t go there. She became agitated and swore in telling the sister to go away.
“When stopped again, she told the sister she was going to the toilet and again swore.
“The sister called security and when the guard arrived, the defendant appeared to take an instant dislike to him.”
Security guard at South Tyneside Hospital was racially abused
Mr Ali said Davison then used a racial slur, adding: “The sister told the security guard to come inside and lock the door.”
Davison, who has six previous convictions from 14 offences, was not in court but pleaded guilty to a charge of causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress in her absence.
David Forrester, defending, said Davison suffered from serious mental health issues, which had deteriorated.
Mr Forrester added: “I appreciate this offence happened in a hospital. I’ve asked her why she talked this way.
“She said she was in crisis and that some words came out of her mouth that she immediately regretted.
“There was another offence in December, for which she was remanded into custody, up to February 25, after being convicted on February 5.
“For that, she was sentenced to a conditional discharge, with an alcohol requirement.”
Magistrates fined Davison £60 and ordered her to pay £85 court costs and a £24 victim surcharge.