Hothead warned by court to keep 'temper under control' after ranting at NHS staff
A Sunderland hothead who lost his cool and swore in a busy A&E ward when a relative was not immediately treated has been told to behave better by magistrates.
They warned Stephen Lavelle, 52, to “keep your temper under control”, following an outburst at Sunderland Royal Hospital which led to police intervention.
Lavelle, of Toward Road, kicked off after travelling in an ambulance to the hospital with a poorly relative on Wednesday, July 8, South Tyneside magistrates heard.
He grew flustered when he and the family member were ushered into a waiting room, despite being brought in via an emergency vehicle.
Prosecutor Syed Ali said a police officer already at the scene intervened when Lavelle would not heed a staff request to leave.
Mr Ali added: “The officer was present and noticed that the hospital was busy with members of the public.
“While there, her attention was drawn to the defendant, who was being calmed by NHS staff in the A&E waiting room.
“Staff asked the defendant to leave but he refused and was shouting and swearing.
“The officer spoke to staff to find out what was wrong. They informed her that the defendant didn’t need to be there.
“She approached him but he swore. He refused to comply with the request of the officer. He was cautioned and arrested.
“The officer had to utilise restraints to get control of the situation.”
Lavelle pleaded guilty to a charge of causing a nuisance or disturbance without reasonable excuse on NHS premises.
He has 19 previous convictions from 41 offences, the last in August last year.
Sophie Allinson-Howells, defending, said: “He had accompanied a family member to hospital in the back of an ambulance.
“It was a very busy day at the hospital, and he has let his stress and concern get in the way.
“Having been blue lighted to hospital, they were met with a significant wait in A&E – he thought they were going to be seen quite quickly.
“When told to leave by staff, he should have done just that.”
Magistrates sentenced Lavelle to a 12-month conditional discharge, with £85 court costs and a £26 victim surcharge.
Clinton Leeks, chairman of the bench, told him: “You need to keep out of trouble and keep your temper under control.”