A university student who went on a bizarre rampage attacking medical staff and a police officer has walked free from court - after a judge heard that her drink was spiked.
It was accepted that Catherine McSorley, known as Louise, had her pint of beer spiked while she innocently left it unattended in a pub. Three emergency workers were injured by her out of control behaviour.
Miss McSorley was also injured as she jumped out of the first floor window of her home in Liverpool city centre as she believed someone was trying to kill her. Miss McSorley, now 20, was due to face trial today at the city’s crown court but the prosecution offered no evidence. The judge recorded a not guilty verdict and she was discharged from the dock.
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Michael Scholes, prosecuting, told the court that the alleged offences occurred on September 11, 2021 after Miss McSorley, who originates from Belfast, went out drinking with friends to watch a Gaelic football match on TV.
He said: "At some point that afternoon she left her drink unattended in a pub. When she returned she had a drink of it and her behaviour became increasingly bizarre.”
Her concerned friends took Miss McSorley, who is studying quantity surveying at Liverpool John Moores University, to her flat in Mount Pleasant in the city centre. It was after she jumped out of the first floor window that the emergency services were called and her behaviour became increasingly aggressive and bizarre.
At an earlier hearing the court heard that paramedic Chelsea El-Hadrami arrived as did the fire services and she got through railings to get down to reach Miss McSorley who was lying on her back conscious and breathing. When she explained she needed to check her spine Miss McSorley became aggressive and verbally abusive.
She then punched the paramedic to the jaw twice leaving her in pain and upset. Miss McSorley also lashed out with her arms and legs towards her.
When her colleague came to her aid the defendant also kicked out at her. A more senior paramedic arrived and she calmed down and was taken to the Royal Liverpool Hospital but she became aggressive again.
Jean Bains, an emergency health care assistant in the A&E went into a consulting room where Miss McSorley was being restrained by two members of security staff. She kept lashing out and was struggling to breathe and the nurse offered her a paper bag to help her.
She was standing at the bottom of the bed when Miss McSorley pulled her legs up to her chest and kicked out like a kangaroo and kicked her twice. After being warned about her behaviour she was restrained by security staff and after they left Ms Bains went back into the room where she saw a metal drip stand on its wheels up and off the ground coming towards her.
She turned and ran towards the exit but felt an intense pain at the top of her back and right upper arm, said the prosecutor. Miss Bains, who suffered swelling, reddening and bruising, heard shouting and screaming and saw Miss McSorley on the floor being restrained body a place officer and a paramedic and security staff came in.
PC Sasha Palmer had walked in after hearing shouting and saw the defendant holding the metal drip stand with both hands with the wheels in the air. She ran towards her telling her to put it down but Miss McSorley did not respond and ran at a security officer and when she was pulled back she hit a member of staff on the back once.
The officer said she grabbed hold of the stand but Miss McSorley began swinging her fists in her direction. She felt one blow to the left side of her face by her ear and another blow to the right side by her eye which made her blink so much her contact lens was dislodged.
When interviewed the defendant said she had little or no recollection and believed her drink may have been spiked. She denied three offences of assaulting emergency workers by beating.
Mr Scholes told the court today (Mon) that “the defence had now provided witness statements from a number of people involved with her during the course of that day, both before and after her behaviour became erratic and bizarre.”
He said that as a matter of law if it was a case which on the balance of probabilities she had been the subject of spiking and was not aware that she had taken some substance which affected her it would not be appropriate for the Crown to continue the prosecution.
Mr Scholes explained: "There is a significant amount of material that points very clearly to the fact that Miss McSorley was a victim of spiking.”
He said a number of people had been injured as a result of her behaviour but “putting it in a simple straightforward way she was not responsible for the way in which she behaved.”
He added: “There is no public interest in pursuing the prosecution and in terms of evidence no realistic prospect of conviction.”
The defence witness statements, which came from people of good character and her mum, “who is of unimpeachable character, supports the view that his young lady was a victim.”
Mr Scholes said: “As a result of the criminal behaviour of somebody and the utter irresponsibility of somebody not only has Miss McSorley been abused and has had to suffer the indignity of facing prosecution. Three perfectly innocent emergency workers acting in the course of public duty for the service of the public have suffered as well.”
Judge Anil Murray said that the prosecution would have had to prove she had not been spiked.
He said: “We know there is a recent campaign about spiking which is becoming more prevalent. There seems to be clear evidence in this case that she was spiked and therefore acted in a way and wasn’t culpable for her actions.”
The judge said that after drinking her pint of beer she became delusional and paranoid and thought someone was going to kill her and jumped out of a window. He said he was sorry for those injured but it was clear she had been spiked and he agreed with the prosecution decision.
Discharging Miss McSorley from the dock he suggested: “You need to take more care in future and not leave your drinks unattended.”
After the hearing Miss McSorley declined to comment on her ordeal but said she had had to close down her Facebook account because of the number of comments her case had attracted. She is still continuing her university course in the city.
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