Northumbria Police called to Sunderland Royal Hospital after drunken teenager starts punching people
A teenage drinker caused police to be called to hospital in the early hours of the morning when he set about punching people, a court heard.
James Cassap, 18, was being restrained by security guards when officers arrived at Sunderland Royal Hospital’s accident and emergency unit at around 1.50am on September 20.
Unruly Cassap, of Berwick Avenue, Town End Farm, appeared intoxicated and was arrested for being drunk and disorderly.
Prosecutor Glenda Beck said officers also checked security camera footage and confirmed him as the guilty party.
She told magistrates in South Tyneside: “Officers were called to Sunderland Royal Hospital shortly before 1.50am.
“They approached the main entrance of A&E and saw Mr Cassap being restrained by security guards.
“They were informed that he had been punching other people in the hospital and he was identified as being drunk.
“CCTV cameras were reviewed, and they confirmed that Mr Cassap had been the aggressor in the incident.
“Due to his behaviour, security was trying to remove him from the hospital.
“He was last before a court in September, when he was fined for assaulting an officer and in August was given a suspended sentence by the crown court.
“This latest offence was committed while subject to a crown court suspended sentence.”
Cassap pleaded guilty to a charge of being drunk and disorderly in public.
He had been jailed for 28 months, a sentence which was suspended for two years, in August by Newcastle Crown Court.
That was for offences including robbery, attempted robbery and assault by beating of an emergency worker.
Heather Bolton, defending, said Cassap had recently spent time in a hospital for personal issues and was now undergoing rehabilitation linked to that.
She added: “He recalls some of the incident but not all. He does accept that he had consumed alcohol and then recalls being in the back of a police vehicle.
“He is currently subject to a crown court suspended sentence order. An offence of drunk and disorderly ordinarily attracts a fine or a discharge.”
Magistrates fined Cassap £40, with £85 court costs and a £16 victim surcharge.