A WOMAN who caused two disturbances at the Borders General Hospital (BGH) within the space of a fortnight has been warned she faces custody if she commits a similar offence.
Rachel Etherington, 51, of Fordel Gardens, Melrose, pleaded guilty at Jedburgh Sheriff Court to obstructing an emergency worker in the hospital's casualty department in August.
A fortnight later she caused another disturbance and admitted two counts of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and also an assault charge.
Defence lawyer Colin Severin said his client had been struggling with a dependency on alcohol and the loss of her employment in May resulted in a relapse.
Sheriff Peter Paterson said they were serious offences particularly during a global pandemic.
He said conduct of this sort at the BGH was "wholly unacceptable" and warned her of the consequences if she offended again at the hospital.
Etherington was given a 14-month Community Payback Order with supervision and an alcohol treatment requirement.
She pleaded not guilty to a new complaint of failing to comply with a breath test.
A trial date has been fixed for June 10 with an intermediate hearing on May 24.
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