A MAN who verbally abused police at Inverclyde Royal Hospital has been told to prepare for prison.

George Govan was so intoxicated on drugs that he can't remember a meeting he had with his lawyer several hours afterwards, a sheriff was told.

Police had conveyed Govan to the A&E department amid concern for his wellbeing but he repaid officers by repeatedly shouting and swearing at them.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard how he'd been discharged in the early hours of last Tuesday morning after being assessed, but remained in the hospital.

Prosecutor Emma Jeffrey said: "The accused was wandering around the accident and emergency department.

"He contacted police and told them that money had been stolen from him and he had no money to get home.

"He was spoken to regarding the allegation and he continually changed his version of events."

Govan repeatedly called officers a disgusting name after being told he must leave the hospital.

He was given warnings to calm down before police had no alternative other than to arrest him, the court was told.

Defence lawyer Edward Sweeney said: "He looks dreadful, I have to say.

"He's not looking after himself in any shape or form and he is imperilling his health."

Mr Sweeney told the court: "His memory of the incident is negligible.

"I saw him at the police office at 11.30am on Tuesday and he has no recollection of that meeting either.

"Mr Govan had taken a significant quantity of drugs and his memory is next to nothing."

Sheriff Derek Hamilton told Govan: "No matter what your problems are with drugs or anything else, this behaviour towards the police is unacceptable.

"Officers are regularly abused for doing their job — a difficult job — and people are fed up with people like you who take them away from more important duties.

"And to do this at a hospital causes other people great upset.

"I will defer sentence for a background report but don't think that this will not result in custody."

Govan, of Blairmore Road, was allowed bail on a 7pm to 7am curfew pending a sentencing hearing on February 6.