POLICE and hospital staff were assaulted following a series of wine-fuelled altercations at Furness General Hospital.

On Wednesday August 16, Bethany Armstrong, of Newton Street, Millom, appeared before Furness Magistrates' Court charged with a string of assault and public order offences.

The court heard of two separate incidents of disorder; the first which took place in December 2016, the second in July this year.

In relation to the December 23 offence, Mrs Pam Ward, prosecuting, said: "At the time she had been a voluntary patient at the Dova Unit [at Furness General]. She was in a meeting to discuss if she should be sectioned under section three of the mental health act."

After being told she would be sectioned, Armstrong became angry, and proceeded to damage fixtures and furniture in the hospital totalling £301.

Mrs Ward then went on to explain details of the second incident, which also took place at FGH, on July 22.

She said: "At 7.30pm she was advised to stay in the A&E department to wait for an appointment. She left but came back with a bottle of wine. She was escorted from the premises but sat on the grass and continued to drink the wine. She then went to the maternity unit and continued to cause problems."

The police were called and the defendant was taken from the building; during the course of disturbance she assaulted two hospital staff members, and then PC Georgia Denney as she was taken away."

Miss Karen Templeton, defending, said her 22-year-old client's life had been affected by a range of mental health problems.

She said: "This is the first time she has appeared before a court. She is blighted by very serious mental health problems.

"Miss Armstrong can remember nothing of these offences [in July], but she has chosen to plead guilty. She took an overdose [that night], for whatever reason this did not have an effect. She has no idea where this bottle of wine came from, just waking up in the police station in a state of distress."

Armstrong was charged with criminal damage in relation to the incident on December 23.

She was also charged with being drunk and disorderly in a public place; two counts of assault by beating; causing a nuisance or disturbance to an NHS member of staff; assaulting a police officer, and two counts of criminal damage. These charges relate to the incident on July 22.

The defendant, who pleaded guilty to all eight charges, will be sentenced on Wednesday August 23 at Furness Magistrates' Court.

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