A drugged-up lout shouted abuse at nurses, threatened to punch them and called them abusive names during a shocking outburst inside a hospital.
Daniel Sparnon launched his tirade of insults on staff at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary as he was being treated for a drug overdose one evening in August last year. A court heard that the 27-year-old called some of the nurses abusive names before telling others “I’m going to punch you all over”.
Sparnon’s attention was then drawn to a female security worker, who’d come to assist, and he told her “you need to get on a treadmill”. The lout’s words left the female feeling “self-conscious and embarrassed”, prosecutors said.
Sparnon, of Heather Place, in Fenham, was eventually arrested and appeared at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court to plead guilty to a public order offence. His case was adjourned until February 18 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.
Paul Coulson, prosecuting, said a female security guard was at work at the RVI at 7pm on August 19 last year when she was asked to assist with an abusive Sparnon. He added: “The defendant was being verbally abusive, shouting at nurses and calling them [an abusive name].
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“Despite trying to reason with him, his behaviour escalated.” He called a member of staff an abusive name and told another “I’m going to punch you all over”.
“Upon police arrival, the defendant continued to be abusive. He was abusive towards the security officer herself, calling her [an abusive name] and telling her “you need to get on a treadmill”.”
In a statement, the security officer said: “These comments made me feel self-conscious and embarrassed. The department was full of patients and medical staff at the time.”
Lewis Pearson, defending, said Sparnon had overdosed on drugs at the time. The solicitor added: “He was not in control of himself because of that. He receives treatment from his GP in the form of anti-depressants.”