Man suspected of overdosing on heroin threatened to 'smash up' a hospital wing

Gary Kelly, 29, raged against a five-hour wait time at Inverclyde Royal's A&E department and demanded to be attended to immediately.

He had been rushed there by ambulance and given anti-opioid medication by its crew but required to be seen by hospital staff too.

Prosecutor Pamela Brady said: "It was 11pm on December 19 and there were concerns that the accused had taken a heroin overdose.

"The department was busy, with an estimated waiting time of five hours and the accused had been given medicine to treat the effects of an opioid.

"He became impatient and swore in stating, 'I want to be seen now, I'm rattling here'.

"The accused added, 'I want to be seen now or I'm smashing this place up'."

Fiscal depute Mrs Brady added: "Staff felt threatened by his behaviour and contacted police."

Kelly, of the Inverclyde Centre on Greenock's Dalrymple Street, pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, shouting, swearing and acting aggressively.

Defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher said: "In sobriety it is quite clear that he is apologetic for his behaviour and he fully appreciates the vital role and the difficult jobs of those in A&E.

"Such was his level of intoxication he was unable to appreciate that."

Mr Gallagher told the court that Kelly recently got a job as a kitchen porter at a bar/restaurant in Glasgow.

The solicitor said: "The offer of drugs was put before him and he succumbed to temptation.

"His recollection of events is nil."

Sheriff Andrew McIntyre deferred sentence until January 30 for a background report and allowed bail.