A drunken man who attended at Borders General Hospital with a friend had to be handcuffed and restrained after shouting and swearing and refusing to sit in the waiting room.
Stuart Gallagher, whose mother works at the Melrose hospital, had gone there in the early hours of July 10 to offer moral support to an ill friend.
But he refused to move away from the reception desk, and repeatedly shouted and swore, and struggled with police officers as they tried to deal with him.
Twenty-two-year-old Gallagher of Davidson Place, Newtown St Boswells, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at the BGH, pictured right, on July 10.
“He went there in the early hours of a Tuesday morning with a friend, who had been admitted by ambulance,” explained Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser.
“He was there as moral support, and was asked to wait in the waiting area, but refused to do so.
“For no apparent reason, he continually refused to move to the waiting area, or to wait outside,” added Mr Fraser.
“A staff nurse, who knew the accused, said she would speak to him and try to calm the situation, and she also asked him to sit in the waiting area, but he began to shout and swear.
“He adopted an aggressive posture, leaning across the reception desk, and the police were called.”
Gallagher “tensed his body” as police tried to handcuff him and he then tried to lash out at officers, eventually being taken to the ground.
Defence solicitor Matt Patrick said his client had little recollection of the offence.
“He was drunk,” he explained, “and has no explanation for his behaviour other than his intoxication.
“He was only there to accompany a friend,” added Mr Patrick.
“His mother works at the BGH, so his behaviour has caused her deep embarrassment.”
The solicitor said Gallagher had been taking steps to reduce his drinking.
“He says he can become aggressive when he has been drinking, and is making efforts to cut down,” added Mr Patrick.
Sheriff Kevin Drummond deferred sentence until November 19 for reports, warning Gallagher being drunk was no excuse.
“You should know better than anybody that this kind of behaviour at Borders General Hospital is simply not acceptable in the community,” he told Gallagher.
The Sheriff added: “It is no excuse that you were drunk.”