‘I’ll stab you with this needle and give you HIV’: Woman’s ‘dumb’ comment in hospital

A magistrate has told a Caboolture woman to fix her underlying drug problem, after her threats in a busy hospital ward.

A court north of Brisbane heard how a Caboolture woman threatened to stab hospital staff with a needle and give them HIV or AIDS.

Rebecca Amy Clarkson, 32, of Caboolture, appeared in the Redcliffe Magistrate Court on November 30, charged with committing a public nuisance, possessing utensils or pipes that had been used in a drug offence, fare evasion, possessing property suspected of having being used in connection with the commission of a drug offence and possessing dangerous drugs.

The court heard that at 10.48pm on August 21, 2022, police were called to Redcliffe Hospital and spoke with security staff after Clarkson, who had been medically cleared for discharge, refused to leave.

Police prosecutor Mike Ball told the court Clarkson became aggressive towards doctors and nurses, yelling at them loudly, being heard calling them a c—, in a crowded ward with sick patients metres away.

Rebecca Amy Clarkson, leaving the Redcliffe Magistrate Court on November 30.

“When security explained the situation with Clarkson refusing to move, Clarkson said to security, ‘if you come anywhere near me, I’ll stab you with this needle and give you HIV’,” Mr Ball said.

Mr Ball told the court Clarkson brandished a used needle and syringe in her right hand before police told her to put it down before arresting and escorting Clarkson from the hospital.

Mr Ball told the court police searched Clarkson’s property before taking her to the watchouse and found a glass pipe containing a crystal substance in the bong.

The court also heard that on August 29, 2022, police patrolling the train station at Kippa-Ring asked Clarkson to produce a valid fare ticket or Go card.

Clarkson told police she had not paid a fare for the train and police located 1.5g of cannabis and a cone piece.

Clarkson’s lawyer Jackson Freeman said Clarkson had taken blood tests and while they had not come back yet, she was quite confident she would not test positive for HIV, AIDS or any other serious disease.

“Taking that into account, it’s most likely to have been a really dumb comment made under pressure, rather then a serious threat,” Mr Freeman said.

“Clarkson was clearly under some sort of psychosis or having some type of episode.

“Obviously I’m not qualified to make a medical assessment but it appeared to be the case that something was going on with her mental health at the time.

“She made a number of very troubling remarks when she was under pressure from nursing staff.”

The court heard that until December 2021, Clarkson worked at Zoomgarden in Burpengary and expected to have employment waiting when the time came.

The court also heard Clarkson was a mother-of-four.

Magistrate Peter Cooke sentenced Clarkson to 12 months probation and recorded convictions.

“You threatening to stab someone with a needle and give them HIV, just don’t say anything, people get imprisoned for that,” Mr Cooke said.

“Do not look at getting 12 months probation, as getting off.

“As Mr Freeman pointed out, your history only starts unusually from 2020.

“Whatever’s the underlying problem you’ve gotta do something about that.”