Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
26
Sept
Person admits swearing and ‘jumping on reception desk’ at Harrogate Hospital
A person has admitted to jumping on the reception desk and swearing at staff members at Harrogate District Hospital.
Sam Bentley-Taffinder, of Ellenthorpe Lane in Ellenthorpe, near York, pleaded guilty to one offence of causing without reasonable excuse on NHS premises a nuisance or disturbance.
The case was heard at Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday (September 25).
Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court hospital staff called the police at around 5am on September 10 after a patient would not leave the premises.
Bentley-Taffinder, who goes by they/them pronouns, had been taken to hospital the night before due to concerns over their mental health but had been discharged at around 3.40am.
Hospital staff asked Bentley-Taffinder, 21, to leave the hospital but they refused.
The court heard a hospital security officer recalled the defendant “jumping on the reception desk” and swearing at staff members.
Bentley-Taffinder also tried to get into a locked security office, before grabbing a wheelchair and positioning it so it blocked an entrance to the hospital.
The security officer felt he had “no option” but to call the police as the defendant had been refusing to leave the hospital for some time and “would not listen”, Ms Ibbotson said.
She added:
The security officer said he wants to help people in his job and does not come to work to be verbally abused.
Bentley-Taffinder has several previous convictions.
Defendant planned to ‘wait in reception until it was safe and light’
Henry Bayman, defending, told the court Bentley-Taffinder has “significant mental health problems”.
The defendant was taken to hospital due to their mental health the night before the offence occurred and was treated there.
Bentley-Taffinder was discharged in the early hours of the morning, but they live in a “rural area quite some way from Harrogate”, Mr Bayman said.
The court heard it was not easy for Bentley-Taffinder to get home at that time of the morning, so they planned to wait in the reception area until it was “light and safe”.
Bentley-Taffinder is known to the security staff as they regularly attend appointments at the hospital.
They usually get on with each other, Mr Bayman said, but added the defendant accepts “getting on the reception desk is not ok”.
The security officer had to pull Bentley-Taffinder down and direct them to the security area, which resulted in the “bad language” towards staff.
The court was told Bentley-Taffinder is on the autism spectrum and has ADHD, for which they take medication every evening.
However, due to being taken to hospital, they did not take their ADHD medication at the normal time, which “played a part in the bad language”.
Mr Bayman said:
They understand staff should be shown respect at the hospital.
The magistrates ordered Bentley-Taffinder to pay a £40 fine, a £16 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.
After sentencing, the chair of the bench told the defendant:
My biggest point to you is that it’s disrespectful to speak to people with bad language. They are only trying to do their job and protect people.
I’m not saying don’t use [bad language] as I know people will, but not at the hospital. They are just doing best by you.
0