Polish man punched police officer and subjected nurse to sexual slurs
A Polish man who punched a PSNI officer and subjected a nurse to sexual slurs in his native language has avoided a prison sentence.
Lukalz Sinkowski also hurled food about a treatment room during the drunken outburst at the Mater Hospital in Belfast.
The 45-year-old, of no fixed abode, was given an 18-month probation order after he admitted disorderly behaviour and an assault on police.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard officers found him slumped against one of the front doors of an apartment block in the city on February 17.
He was removed at the request of residents and taken to the Mater Hospital, swearing at police throughout the journey before directing a verbal tirade at the receptionist.
Despite being warned about his language and behaviour, Sinkowski continued to be abusive towards a triage nurse.
“He was placed in a bed but continued swearing, shouting and throwing food around the room,” a prosecuting lawyer said.
At one point Sinkowski punched one of the police officers on the leg and attempted to strike him again before he was restrained.
Defence counsel Michael Boyd told the court his client was sorry and ashamed of his actions in the hospital.
“Staff were subjected to outrageous behaviour and outrageous language from someone who was drunk and out of control,” the barrister acknowledged. “In sobriety he is a quiet, unassuming individual but under the influence of drink he is completely different.”
Sinkowski was described as a hard-working man whose alcohol problems spiralled out of control after suffering a violent attack in 2019.
Mr Boyd argued that probation would allow the defendant an opportunity to address his problems as a direct alternative to custody.
District Judge Alan White stressed how imprisonment is usually appropriate for similar outbursts within a hospital.
“I have been there myself with my wife waiting for urgent treatment and seen the impact of drunk people abusing and assaulting staff,” he said.
But taking into account the four-week period Sinkowski has already spent on remand, Mr White instead sentenced him to 18 months probation.
He ordered the defendant to comply with any recommended counselling programmes and warned: “The alternative is lengthy periods in custody.”