Last updated at 12:20, Saturday, 28 April 2012

A MAN responsible for what a judge called “appalling” behaviour at Furness General Hospital has been given a suspended sentence.

Kenneth Cardy-Neil swore at a nurse, urinated on the floor and picked up and threw a commode at police in the drunken incident, which took place on January 4.

Cardy-Neil, 50, of Egerton Court, Barrow, pleaded guilty to a charge of affray when he appeared at Preston Crown Court yesterday.

He was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with two years’ supervision.

The supervision will include an alcohol treatment programme and thinking skills programme.

The court heard that a struggle occurred at the hospital, during which Cardy-Neil was “mouthing abuse at all and sundry”, said Judge Andrew Woolman.

Mr Frank Nance, defending, said his client had been very drunk when the “disgraceful” incident occurred in the hospital’s A&E department.

Since then, he has served a prison sentence of 160 days, for a different matter.

The latest case had been adjourned for an assessment to be carried out to see if he would be suitable for an alcohol treatment programme.

Judge Woolman said the earlier time in custody was one of the reasons why he had considered an alternative sentence.

He told Cardy-Neil: “You have a dreadful record for all sorts of offending. You have been in prison many times and also received non custodial sentences many times, often breaching them.

“I have been persuaded to give you one last go, mainly because you spent some time in prison up until a week or two ago. The matter is very much in your hands. You know what the consequences are if you breach this.”

First published at 10:40, Saturday, 28 April 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk