Drunken outburst followed 999 call made during mental health crisis

A 61-YEAR-OLD Haverfordwest woman has narrowly avoided a custodial sentence after lashing out at a paramedic at Withybush General Hospital.

Louise Wiltshire was taken to hospital on the morning of Thursday (Dec 12) after making a 999 call during which she threatened to take her own life.

“Police attended her home and could see that she was very drunk,” Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

“She said her father had recently died, nobody cared about her, but that she had decided not to kill herself because she cared too much for her cats. She told officers she was ‘pissed as a fart’ and that no one wanted to know her.”

Fearing for her safety, officers requested an ambulance to convey Wiltshire to Withybush General Hospital for observation.

“She was initially compliant, but on arrival at Withybush she lashed out at a paramedic, fortunately causing no injury,” Ms James said.

Wiltshire also shouted obscenities which were heard by other patients waiting in the A&E department.

Wiltshire, of Fleming Crescent, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in a public place. She was represented in court by Alaw Harries.

Ms Harries told the court that Wiltshire had been grieving the death of her father, who had died just three weeks earlier, and had turned back to alcohol.

Imposing sentence, District Judge Mark Layton reminded Wiltshire of her extensive offending history.

“You have a significant number of drunk and disorderly offences going back to 2007,” he said. “Fortunately for you, the paramedic did not press charges. If he had, you would have been going to prison today.

“You are making a nuisance of yourself.”

Wiltshire was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £32 surcharge.