Man attempted to chew through electrical equipment in ambulance
A man attempted to chew through electrical equipment in an ambulance, a court was told
Joel Simpson (24), of Minorca Drive in Carrickfergus, had been found intoxicated in an alleyway in the town at 12.30am on March 3 in 2024.
He was acting erratically and police travelled with him in an ambulance to Antrim Area Hospital. The defendant began kicking out and screaming obscenities. He was put in handcuffs and limb restraints.
A prosecutor said: "While travelling to Antrim Area Hospital his behaviour worsened and at one point he attempted to chew through electrical equipment. At the hospital he was screaming and shouting at police.
The defendant appeared at Antrim Magistrates' Court, sitting in Ballymena on Tuesday, via video link from prison. A defence barrister said the defendant was on remand in custody "on another matter".
In relation to the incident before Tuesday's court, a defence barrister accepted the behaviour was "entirely inappropriate" when the defendant "was under the influence" and had been struggling with his mental health.
She said it had been "unacceptable" and the defendant wished to apologise to police and medical staff. Simpson was given a two months jail term.