A DRUNK was abusive and violent in a busy hospital accident and emergency unit and called out a racist name to a consultant who was trying to help him.

Stephen Barry Ellis, 50, kicked out, tried to stand but fell against a cupboard forcing it off the wall, and was shouting and wearing in front of staff and other patients, including a seriously ill woman in her 90s.

Ellis appeared from custody at North East Wales Magistrates Court following the incident on Thursday night at Wrexham Maelor Hospital and at the weekend he was jailed for 16 weeks.

He admitted a racially aggravated public order offence, criminal damage and a public order offence against two police community support officers who were forced to take him to the ground and handcuff him.

Magistrates told Ellis that it was a really nasty incident when nurses and other hospital staff were doing their job and helping people who were ill.

It was a prolonged incident which called for immediate custody.

The court heard Ellis had only just been released from prison and bought a bottle of rum when he was told there was no accommodation available to him.

He did not remember why he was at the hospital but his behaviour was inappropriate, unacceptable and unfair on the staff and other patients, said prosecutor Helen Hall.

The unit was extremely busy with 10 out of the 11 beds occupied but Ellis was extremely intoxicated and was shouting and swearing at security and other hospital staff.

It was extremely distressing for patients including a 96-year-old woman who was very ill.

A female consultant was called a racist name by him and in view of his behaviour he was placed in a private isolation room.

He was in a wheelchair, was unsteady when he tried to stand, and a mattress was placed in the room in case he fell.

Ellis became increasingly aggressive, kicked out and when he stood and fell he pulled a corner cupboard off the wall.

Senior sister Alison Hughes described his behaviour as disgusting.

It was unacceptable and unfair on staff and patients, she said.

Ellis was also abusive to two PCSOs.

He took up a fighting stance and clenched his fists and while the officers tried to calm him down he remained extremely aggressive.

The officers, concerned for their own safety and the safety of others, took him to the floor.

He gave a no comment interview.

Defence solicitor Elzbeth Kenny said Ellis had only been released from prison that day.

It was clearly an unsavoury incident and nothing to be proud of. He was extremely drunk.

His alcohol counsellor had told him there would be supported accommodation available for him to help him prevent the revolving door of being released, being homeless, drinking to excess and getting into trouble again.

But when told by the probation service that there was no accommodation, he bought a bottle of rum and got drunk.

He could not remember why he was at the hospital.

Ellis, said Miss Kenny, was desperate for help.

He had been a successful painter and decorator but drink had effectively ruined his life.

Apart from the rum he had been alcohol free for some seven to 10 months and he wanted to change.

“I want you to understand the hopelessness that he feels at the moment,” she explained.

She suggested an alcohol treatment programme and said he could live with an uncle at Coopers Lane in Wrexham.

Miss Kenny told the Mold court Ellis looked a lot better and healthier and it would be a perfect time to try rehabilitation.