A PEMBROKE DOCK man pleaded guilty at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court to an offence of using threatening and abusive language towards Accident & Emergency staff at Withybush Hospital.
Michael Simms, aged 37 and who lives at the Old Coronation School, Pembroke Dock, committed the offence on November 10.
Opening the case for the prosecution, Mr Vaughan Pritchard Jones told the Bench Simms occasionally slept at A&E at Withybush but had been subsequently rehoused at the Old Coronation School in Pembroke Dock.
On the day in question, Simms had come to Accident and Emergency, Withybush. The prosecution case was that he stood on a chair to change the channel on the television and was asked to stop by a member of staff.
Simms then launched a tirade of abuse at the staff member before calming down. An hour later, Simms unleashed a further volley of foul language.
At that point, he was spoken to by the A&E Manager and asked to refrain from swearing or the Police would be called to remove him from the premises.
In response, Simms said: “She thinks she’s a ****ing nurse in a ****ing nurse’s uniform. Wait ‘til she comes out here, I’ll ****ing have her.”
At that stage, another member of staff called the Police and Simms was subsequently arrested and removed from the hospital premises.
Mitigating for Simms, Mark Layton told the Court his client did not entirely accept the version of events set out by the prosecution and claimed the second incident had been sparked when an unknown person threw a cup of water over him as he slept. However, his client accepted his behaviour was unacceptable and regretted his words.
He told the court his client suffered from long-term health issues and received ESA as a result.
Simms was fined £80, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £32, and £85 costs.
Payment will be made by deduction from benefits at-source.