A DRUNK man who caused a disturbance in the casualty department of Borders General Hospital has avoided a prison sentence.

David Mitchell, 23, of North Street, Peebles, was under the influence of alcohol and valium when he reacted angrily to staff who were trying to treat him by shouting and swearing during the early hours of February 10.

At Selkirk Sheriff Court this week, depute fiscal Tessa Bradley explained that police officers found Mitchell in George Place, Peebles, at 10 to two in the morning, dressed only in his underwear, and with head injuries, as well as being extremely drunk.

She said: “He was taken to the BGH by ambulance with the police accompanying and admitted around 3.30am.

“By 6am. he had been assessed by a staff nurse and responded violently to her assessment of him by shouting and swearing and throwing his arms around.

“A panic alarm was pressed and police re-attended. When officers arrived and spoke to him he calmed down and officers left the accused at the hospital.

“However, later the same morning, at 7.40am when a police officer arrived at the casualty department he found the accused at the security door still in his underwear wrapped in a blanket, arguing with two nurses who were trying to get him back into the treatment room.

“At this point the accused was acting in a beligerent and agitated manner and other police officers were called to assist. He was shouting and swearing at a constable and tearing plasters and tape from his person and throwing them around the room.

“He was repeatedly asked to calm down but continued shouting and swearing which caused a lot of distress to others in the department.” At 8.35am, with no sign of him calming down, Mitchell was arrested.

Defence lawyer Rory Bannerman said Mitchell was 23 years of age and a single man and was involved with the charity Momentum because of a brain injury but accepted the intoxication was of his own making through drinking alcohol and taking valium.

He added: “He had fallen over and hurt himself and had been taken to the best place for him but reacted wrongly fuelled by the intoxication.” Sheriff Eric Brown said it was a serious matter committing a breach of the peace at Borders General Hospital saying: “The accident and emergency department serves the needs of members of the public.

“The last thing staff and patients need is a drug or drink crazed individual making life unbearable for them and diverting the attentions of staff.” But Sheriff Brown noted Mitchell had no previous record of violence and ordered him to carry out 100 hours unpaid work in the community as well as imposing an 18 month supervision order.