A hospital had to go into lockdown after a Kelso man terrorised nursing staff and patients, Jedburgh Sheriff Court has been told.

Carl Kirsopp burst into Kelso Community Hospital which mainly provides for elderly people on the evening of May 3 and said, 'I need help man' before shouting at staff, 'stop staring at me man'.

The 32-year-old was highly agitated and appeared to be under the influence of drink or drugs according to staff who dialled 999 and locked the hospital building to stop him getting back in.

When police arrived at the scene Kirsopp was banging on the door of the hospital trying to gain entry.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said the five female members of staff and 23 patients were "greatly alarmed" by Kirsopp's behaviour.

Three days later Kirsopp was involved in another incident in the Rosewood Gardens area Kelso where he brandished a knife, damaged a car tyre and behaved in a threatening or abusive manner as he tried to locate his partner who had gone to visit a friend.

Kirsopp pleaded guilty to a total of seven offences.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said his client told him he had suffered a "psychiatric blow-out" at the time.

Kirsopp was jailed for more than 18 months with the 580-days sentence back-dated to May 7 when he was first taken into custody in connection with the matter.