Coupar Angus man jailed for breach of the peace at Blairgowrie hospital

Jan 1 2010 by Alison Lowson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

STAFF at a Perthshire hospital feared for their safety after a drunken man turned up too late for evening visiting.

Perth Sheriff Court was told this week that 46-year-old Alexander Campbell, who had gone to see his elderly father, was clutching a can of lager and repeatedly refused to leave.

Campbell, of Cumberland Barracks, Calton Street, Coupar Angus, swore at staff and upset 14 patients who were in Blairgowrie Cottage Hospital.

Campbell, who was jailed for 10 years at the High Court in 1994 for attempted murder, was told by Sheriff Lindsay Foulis that he had a “horrendous record” and had made a “complete nuisance of himself.”

He was jailed for six months after pleading guilty to committing a breach of the peace at the hospital on Boxing Day.

The court heard that Campbell had turned up at the hospital at 8.10pm, 10 minutes after the end of visiting time, to see his elderly father, who was a patient there.

Depute fiscal Janine Bates said: “He refused to leave on at least two occasions. He was heavily under the influence of alcohol and was holding a can of lager in his hand.

“Staff, fearing for their safety, contacted the police.”

When officers arrived 15 minutes later, he was still in the building.

Solicitor Jamie Baxter said that the accused’s father, who is in his late 70s, had been transferred there from Ninewells the previous week.

There was no public transport and he had walked from Coupar Angus that evening as he wanted to take some clothes to his father.

“He was annoyed he had arrived late, he was frozen and became frustrated when he was told to leave.

“He accepts he swore but it wasn’t directed at anyone and he hadn’t intended to be intimidating.”

He had subsequently spent two nights in police custody.

Mr Baxter asked that the Sheriff consider deferring sentence on the accused, who has a “long standing” alcohol problem.

Campbell admitted a lengthy list of previous convictions, including another High Court appearance, this time at Stirling in 1990, when he received a four-year jail term on a charge of assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

Sheriff Foulis said they were now past the stage where social work involvement could realistically change him.

“You may well have set out with the best intentions but the whole scenario on December 26 is indicative, to me, of someone who is well under the influence of alcohol.

“It would appear you set off from Coupar Angus to walk to Blairgowrie.

“That seems to me to indicate some muddled thinking.”