A THREATENING lout who shouted foul-mouthed abuse at an Inverclyde Royal medic before deliberately triggering the hospital’s fire alarm is today behind bars for his ‘outrageous behaviour’.

Robert Bruce looked stunned in the dock of Greenock Sheriff Court as lawman Derek Hamilton sentenced him to eight months.

The sheriff told the 20-year-old: “This is a message to you and others who intend to behave in this kind of way.” A boozed-up Bruce, right, turned up at the accident and emergency department late at night with ‘stomach pains’ after downing vodka and cider — then flew into a rage when a doctor asked him to leave.

Prosecutor Pamela Brady said: “He was accompanied by his mother. He immediately became verbally abusive and swore at a doctor, calling him a derogatory name.

“The accused engaged in a prolonged course of conduct and aggression towards the doctor.

“He was asked to calm down and leave but refused to do so.

“The accused was shouting and swearing at the top of his voice and was constantly using a certain swear word.” Fiscal depute Mrs Brady added: “He was eventually ushered out by his mother, but was seen to deliberately set off the fire alarm by striking it with his elbow.

“The fire service was called out to what was believed to be an emergency situation.” Sports shop worker Bruce, of Rankin Street, Greenock, committed the offences shortly before midnight on 27 March.

Police arrested him at his home at 1.30am the following morning.

Defence lawyer Gerry Keenan told the court: “Mr Bruce has always lacked confidence and has always been an isolated individual.

“He binge drinks to give him the confidence he otherwise lacks.” Mr Keenan added: “His behaviour was driven by the alcohol and he is thoroughly ashamed.” Sheriff Hamilton told Bruce: “There has to be a message sent out that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated at all.

“I have to take into consideration the wider public interest.

“Medical staff and patients should not be subjected to this outrageous behaviour.” The sheriff added: “That is one thing, but the fact that you deliberately activated a fire alarm which could have resulted in the evacuation of the hospital is also an extremely serious matter.

“There is no alternative here but to impose a custodial sentence.”