Patient's angry tirade caused £6,000 damage to Swansea hospital

A PATIENT went on a frenzied tirade throwing furniture and smashing windows around a hospital after a "red mist" descended on him, a court heard.

Christopher Ronald Lewis, 29, caused more than £6,000 of damage when he destroyed furniture and windows at Cefn Coed hospital.

Lewis had arrived at the hospital hoping to be admitted after being referred by his doctor.

But when nursing staff told him he had arrived too late, he unleashed a "tirade of abuse", prosecutor Jonathan Coombs said.

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Mr Coombs, prosecuting at Swansea Magistrates' Court, said: "He began a tirade of abuse and aggressive behaviour towards a member of staff. He picked up a chair and threw it towards him, but he managed to dodge the chair and tried to calm him down."

He said Lewis, of Matthew Street, Swansea, continued to throw furniture and all but one member of staff left the room.

"He then threw chairs at the remaining member of staff, narrowly missing him. Again staff tried to calm him down but he picked up a chair and smashed a meshed window," added Mr Coombs.

As glass shattered over the staff they put a mattress against the broken window to protect themselves against the flying shards.

Police arrived to calm him down, but he continued in his tirade.

He smashed furniture, throwing it at reinforced windows and the wall.

In total he caused £6,388 of damage and firearms officers also had to be called.

As they approached Lewis, he said: " 'I came for help, but they won't see me."

Lewis, of Matthew Street, Swansea, admitted a charge of affray and criminal damage.

He later admitted to police he was drunk and when they asked him how drunk he was on a scale of one to ten, he replied "five".

Mr Coombs said: "He's clearly caused a great deal of fear to a number of people present."

Steve Burnell, representing Lewis, said his client got to the hospital expecting to be admitted.

When a nurse checked, and told him he was only due for an assessment, he became frustrated.

"Aggressive words have taken place and a red mist has kicked in and you have heard what happened. He's very remorseful for the damage that has been sustained," said Mr Burnell.

Magistrates said they would sentence Lewis once a pre-sentence report had been prepared.

The case was adjourned for one week.