An alcoholic with four pages of previous convictions has been jailed after having no recollection of being in the RAH with a knife.
Stephen Haggarty, 51, gathered spit in his mouth and threatened to launch it at police officers stating, “here do you want this?”
Haggarty appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court from custody on Friday and admitted to being in possession of a knife on January 22 in the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
He also admitted threatening to “discharge” spit on to police officers within the hospital.
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Prosecutor, David McDonald told the court: “Around 11.10pm, at the accident and emergency department of the Royal Alexandra Hospital, a paramedic approached an officer who was attending another matter and told how they had concerns that the accused may be in possession of a knife.
“The paramedic was concerned the knife was in Haggarty’s pocket.
“The police officer requested for further officers to attend.
“Around 11.20pm two further officers attended and were informed of the concerns regarding the accused.
“Haggarty was advised he would be detained for a search.
“During the search a black handled knife with a six-inch blade was discovered in Haggarty’s trouser pocket and he was advised he was under arrest and handcuffed.
“He made no reply to caution and charge.
“Around 11.30pm during his medical assessment, the accused gathered spit in his mouth and stated to officers, ‘here do you want this.’
“A spit hood was applied and he was placed within a police van and taken to Cathcart police station.”
The six-inch weapon was shown to the court, alongside Haggarty’s lengthy four page booklet of previous convictions
Defence agent Rhona Lynch told the court, the father-of-two wanted to apologise to the police officer.
Ms Lynch added: “This is a man with a long record of offending.
“He has numerous offences for possession of a knife.
“Mr Haggarty sadly is an alcoholic and has struggled with alcohol for around 20 years.
“On this day he had gone drinking with drinking acquaintances and he really has no recollection of how he got to the accident and emergency department and then he has no idea of how he came to be in possession of a knife.”
On sentencing Sheriff Brian Mohan said: “Quite a number of your previous offences involve possession of a knife, that seems to have been a common feature.
“You clearly have a significant drink problem, however there hasn’t been any violence with knives.
“Custody is the only realistic option at this point.”
Sheriff Mohan jailed Haggerty for 18 months.
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