A PATIENT who threatened to cut people’s throats and urinated near the entrance of a hospital has escaped immediate custody.

William Smith, aged 24 of York Avenue, Tyldesley, turned up at a Royal Bolton Hospital at 6am on November 9 and made threats to staff saying he would harm people.

Steve Woodman, prosecuting, said: “He demanded to be sectioned and said he would smash the place up. He started threatening to stab his mum and grandmother even though they were not there.

“He said: “If you don’t get me seen I’m going to get people’s throats cut. Get me seen or I will kill someone”. He was seen urinating in the entrance.”

Staff alerted police who arrested Smith and found he was in possession of cannabis.

Nurse Amanda Haigh, who had dealt with Smith, was said to be “shocked and disgusted”. She had never been treated like that in her experience of more than 10 years as a nurse.

Smith was said to have no recollection of the incident.

Bill Pearson, defending, told Bolton Magistrates Court: “His behaviour was pretty grotesque, he and I accept that. He doesn’t try to excuse his behaviour, he has no logical reason for his behaviour. He would like to apologise to the nurse. He has no idea why he said he would harm members of his family as he has no problems with any of them.”

Smith, who fits flooring for a living, had 18 previous convictions. He admitted the public order offence and possessing cannabis.

He was sentenced to a 12 week jail term suspended for 12 months. He was ordered to complete a thinking skills programme, to address his offending, and a 12 month supervision requirement.

He was ordered to pay nurse Haigh £100 compensation. He was also fined £135 for possessing cannabis, ordered to pay £85 court costs and a victim surcharge.