A man has been jailed after threatening to kill Aberdeen Royal Infirmary staff during a campaign of “abominable” intimidation.
Alan Goffin, known as Wyness, subjected various staff to vile abuse and threats over a period of more than seven months while he was an inpatient at ARI.
The 46-year-old threatened to throw acid at staff, stab them, and even have them killed, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
Sheriff Graham Buchanan said the threats were so “atrocious” he would be failing in his public duty if he didn’t send Wyness to prison.
Fiscal depute Lewis Devoy said: “Since November last year, the accused has made repeated threats to various staff members to harm them, including that he would throw acid in their faces, threats to slash and to stab, and to ‘organise hits’ on certain members of staff.
“These comments have made staff members feel particularly concerned and in fear for their safety.
‘It is a risk as to whether that limb will be with him much longer’
“These details have been noted within patient logbooks.”
On June 16, due to “certain comments” made by Wyness, police were asked to attend ARI and he was arrested and taken to Kittybrewster station.
While there he made “threats to kill and threats of violence” towards a police witness and also made an offensive comment related to sexual orientation.
Wyness, whose address was given in court papers as Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, pled guilty to two charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
Defence agent Mike Monro said: “He’s a triple amputee, his remaining limb being his right arm. To be perfectly honest, it is a risk as to whether that limb will be with him much longer.”
‘Crying out for a custodial sentence’
The solicitor described the situation as “tragic” and said Wyness uses an electric wheelchair and requires constant assistance.
He went on: “He has apologised to the medical staff. They have been exceptionally tolerant towards him.”
Mr Monro said a comment made on June 16 was “the final straw” for staff.
Sheriff Buchanan said: “The staff at ARI were prepared to tolerate the behaviour on the basis that they understood his difficulties, but lots of people would have difficulties while in hospital – they wouldn’t have behaved in the utterly abominable manner Mr Wyness did.”
Mr Monro asked for sentence to be deferred to allow Wyness to move into new sheltered accommodation and to show that he could behave.
‘I would be failing in my public duty if I didn’t impose a severe sentence’
Sheriff Buchanan said: “When you look at how absolutely disgraceful his behaviour was in the hospital, it is a case that’s inevitably crying out for a custodial sentence.
“I think if anything other than a jail sentence was imposed the Crown would have me off down the road to the appeals or even the high court for imposing too lenient a sentence.
“It’s just totally intolerable for members of staff to be subjected to this sort of disgusting, appalling behaviour.
“The message needs to be sent out loud and clear – if you behave like that to hospital staff you will be dealt with as a serious offender.”
Addressing Wyness directly, the sheriff went on: “As you will understand from what I have already said about just how appalling and atrocious your behaviour was towards people who were looking after you in hospital, I would be totally failing in my public duty if I did not impose a severe sentence upon you to make it clear that behaviour of this kind towards hospital staff will not be tolerated.”
Sheriff Buchanan jailed Wyness for 10 months.
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