A MAN who unleashed a torrent of abuse at hospital staff for the fourth time has been jailed.

Craig James Adams, 44, will spend 24 weeks in prison after he admitted threatening staff at Furness General Hospital, breaking an order to prevent him from doing that.

South Cumbria Magistrates' Court heard yesterday that Adam shouted abuse at medical and security staff at the hospital while there for treatment following an overdose on March 10.

The defendant admitted breaching a criminal behaviour order prohibiting him from acting in this way to hospital staff that was given to him by the court last year.

Prosecutor Peter Barnsley told the court Adams, of Salthouse Road, was at the hospital and wanted to leave after a dispute with staff, but was told to stay because of the severity of his condition.

He said Adams said he would "knock out" a member of staff and also he said he would "stab" another.

Adams was also said to have shouted at a patient in a cubicle forcing her to be asked to be moved away from him.

Adams's solicitor Tristan Roberts described him as a "chronic alcoholic" whose behaviour was influenced heavily by his addiction.

He said: "He is the one of the worst alcoholics I have ever seen in my time as a defence solicitor.

"He accepts that he was extremely drunk at the time.

"When he is sober he is pleasant, compliant and helpful and the police agree."

Mr Roberts said Adams needed to visit the hospital for liver treatment every three or four weeks and had been back to FGH a number of times since the incident.

Chair of the bench Gillian Sutton said: "This court takes very very seriously any behaviour towards NHS and emergency staff.

"You have been given a criminal behaviour order to protect people at the hospital because they need protecting from people like you.

"They are doing vital work for the community and they do not need abuse from people like you.

"Your behaviour has been continuous and we need to protect our emergency workers."