A DRUNK who caused a disturbance in the casualty department at Borders General Hospital during the early hours of the morning has been jailed for 120 days at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.
Mark Sharrard of Coalmarket in Kelso pleaded guilty to charges of threatening behaviour in the hospital and also obstructing police officers who were trying to restrain him.
The court was told that officers had spent more than three hours dealing with 21-year-old Sharrard both in Kelso and at the hospital.
Defence lawyer Mat Patrick admitted his client had been drinking to excess and could not recall the incident.
Sheriff Peter Paterson said: "Offences such as this are repugnant to society.
“To behave in this way at a hospital attracting resources and attention to yourself can only mean that custody is uppermost in the court’s mind.”
He explained community disposals had been tried and failed with Sharrard in the past and said he had no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence.
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