Blackwood man faces jail after attacking Royal Gwent Hospital staff

6:10pm Monday 14th January 2013 in Gwent news

A BLACKWOOD man faces jail after assaulting a member of staff at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport and "lashing out" at nurses and patients.

Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court heard how Gareth Martin Roberts, 39, had to be strapped down and left on a trolley for over an hour after throwing punches and swearing, with another man waiting in accident and emergency having to help restrain him.

Prosecutor Mark Salter described Roberts of High Street, Fleur-de-Lys as being "extremely drunk" when he was brought into a busy corridor of accident and emergency at 9pm on Christmas Eve.

It was also suspected he had tried to take an overdose, with medical technicians trying to restrain him as he "punched his arms in the air, trying to leave the trolley".

Health care support worker Jamie Meredith said in a statement: "He was lashing out at members of staff with his fists, so was strapped down and left. But, he continued shouting and being abusive in what was a very busy waiting area."

Mr Salter said security and member of the public Robert Smith had to restrain him again as he continued lashing out before deputy sister Susan Jefferiss approached the defendant.

The prosecutor added: "He grabbed her left wrist tightly, causing her to feel immediate pain. Mr Smith had to help extricate his grip and there was reddening, with Ms Jefferiss needing her arm X-rayed because of the swelling."

Defence solicitor Andrew Costley said Roberts had drunk two bottles of sherry and couldn’t remember anything of his behaviour.

He said: "He was awoken on Christmas morning by the custody sergeant and told what had happened. He is absolutely disgusted with himself, ashamed. Hospital staff shouldn’t be treated that way and he offers his profuse apologies."

Roberts pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms Jefferiss and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

He will be sentenced on February 14 after a pre-sentence report is compiled, with chairman of the bench Alan Penfold warning all options are open, including prison.

Comments(14)

gingertom says...
7:20pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Make him work some unpaid hours in the nhs at the very least.

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Llanmartinangel says...
7:40pm Mon 14 Jan 13

gingertom wrote:
Make him work some unpaid hours in the nhs at the very least.
For a violent assault? Err, no. Lock him up.

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Robindabank says...
8:07pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Security guards armed with electric cattle prods, any nonsense 'ave it', this would make em think twice.

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Limestonecowboy says...
8:39pm Mon 14 Jan 13

gingertom wrote:
Make him work some unpaid hours in the nhs at the very least.
Agreed. Put him to work at A&E to see whats its like at the sharp end this 39 year old should be thoroughly ashamed.

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emlynkide says...
8:42pm Mon 14 Jan 13

nobody needs this in a/e theres to much of it going on, and using the same old exuses all the time and getting a slap on the wrist and told not to do it again, 28 day's may make them think twice.

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A.R. Gus says...
9:09pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Try grabbing wrists on the wing landing, see what happens then pal!

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Independentvoter says...
9:11pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Some City hospitals already have 'secure rooms' in their A+E Departments.

They are designed to temporary detain and calm down patients who are violent towards frontline staff or other patients and visitors etc either through their alcohol, drug abuse or mental illness .

We all know that frontline services have got to cut their budgets too but I believe that installing a secure room at The Royal Gwent Hospital to protect frontline staff would be money worth spent !

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sylwebydd says...
9:16pm Mon 14 Jan 13

should have been left in the gutter

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The Red Claw says...
11:07am Tue 15 Jan 13

Defence solicitor Andrew Costley said Roberts had drunk two bottles of sherry and couldn’t remember anything of his behaviour.

What a fantastically appropriate name for a lawyer. Money for old rope. Most of it probably Legal Aid too!

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whatintheworld says...
11:36am Tue 15 Jan 13

Independentvoter wrote:
Some City hospitals already have 'secure rooms' in their A+E Departments. They are designed to temporary detain and calm down patients who are violent towards frontline staff or other patients and visitors etc either through their alcohol, drug abuse or mental illness . We all know that frontline services have got to cut their budgets too but I believe that installing a secure room at The Royal Gwent Hospital to protect frontline staff would be money worth spent !
suprised there's not one there already! wonder if the argus fancy another petition? haha

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Dolieboy says...
5:32pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Quick injection of bleach would have sorted out the problem.

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Magor says...
8:26pm Tue 15 Jan 13

If you are drunk then you should not be allowed in a hospital or ambulance.So if you think you may need medical help at some point dont get drunk.

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newportexpat says...
10:21pm Tue 15 Jan 13

that's alcohol for you, if he'd been on marijuana this wouldn't of happened - alcohol costs the NHS millions every year & I agree with Magor, if someone's that drunk & abusive they shouldn't be admitted to hospital they should be in a padded cell at the local police station!!

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displayed says...
10:44pm Tue 15 Jan 13

He should have been banged up, not stuck on a trolley, he didnt want any treatment!
Blaming his appalling behaviour on drink is no excuse!

He chose to drink, get drugged up, getting himself into that state!

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