AN ABUSIVE man has been up before the magistrates after he had to be escorted from hospital premises.

Luke Berry entered a guilty plea to magistrates in Hereford.

Berry had been taken to the A&E department at Hereford County Hospital after he was found collapsed on November 17, prosecutor Elizabeth Blacklock said.

He had woken up and appeared to be fit for discharge, but when he was asked to leave by staff he became aggressive, shouting and swearing and refusing to leave.

Staff sent out a security alert and a porter was sent to the department to help with the situation, but Berry continued throwing insults at staff before he was eventually escorted from the premises and reported to police.

"He is a regular offender and has previous public order matters, the last of which was in November, for which he was given a custodial sentence," Miss Blacklock said.

"He is a serving prisoner."

George Cousins, for Berry, said he had represented the 27-year-old on a number of occasions over the years.

"He has a long-standing addiction to alcohol and he has had interventions over the years which have helped for a short time, but then he regresses," Mr Cousins said.

"He is due for release and probation are trying to get him into a rehab facility."

Berry, who is of no fixed address, was fined £40. No costs order or victim surcharge was imposed.

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