HOSPITAL workers, patients and children were left shocked when a man fired off a stream of abuse as police tried to calm him down in a hospital casualty department.

Patrick Neville Jackson had been taken to York Hospital by ambulance after claiming he had been stabbed with a screwdriver in the city centre.

But when officers arrived to speak to him about the matter, he lost his temper.

Jackson, 40, of Middleham Avenue, York, demanded to know why they were there when they approached him in the waiting room of the Wigginton Road hospital's accident and emergency unit.

Jackson swore loudly and tried to shrug them off as they attempted to restrain him.

Jackson's foul-mouthed outburst led to him being charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

Angela Smith, prosecuting, told magistrates in York that the incident happened during the early evening of January 2.

"It took place in one of the public areas of the accident and emergency unit, which two police officers were called to after originally being called to Market Street in the city centre," she said.

"An ambulance had taken Jackson to hospital and the officers followed, but in the holding area of the unit he became agitated, swore and asked them what they were doing there, saying What are you doing here? I didn't call you'.

"Because this was reported at around 6pm rather than the early hours of the morning, there were children present. Jackson became aggressive towards the officers, kicking a chair and threatening to knock them out.

"They took hold of him, but he struggled and continued to swear repeatedly."

Jackson was eventually arrested and taken to Fulford Police Station, where he admitted the offence.

Jackson, who was not represented and defended himself, said: "Somebody had stabbed me with a screwdriver in town.

"I didn't know who it was and I didn't want the police involved."

Jackson was fined £70 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and £35 court costs.

Presiding magistrate Ian Timmins told him: "You were assaulted yourself and, to some extent, that is the reason you committed the offences you did.

"However, this behaviour took place in the accident and emergency unit of a hospital. There were other people around, there were children around, and it is not very good for children to see that."