Allan Jeffrey Griffin: Jail for exposing himself in Coonabarabran Hospital

The 48-year-old grabbed his genitalia telling a security guard to “suck on it” after being refused an IV drip for treatment.

A 48-year-old has been sentenced to prison after exposing himself in a hospital, grabbing his genitals and telling a security guard to “suck on it” after being refused an IV drip.

Allan Jeffrey Griffin pleaded guilty in Tweed Heads Local Court on Wednesday to three counts of failing to appear, larceny, stalk or intimidate intending fear of physical harm, destroying or damaging property and behaving in offensive manner in a public place.

Griffin’s most serious offending occurred at 2.55am on New Year’s Eve 2020 when he was taken to the Coonabarabran hospital by ambulance complaining of back pain, according to court papers.

He was taken into the emergency department without issue but when transferred into a ward and offered pain relief through an upper arm injection, he refused this and demanded an intravenous dose of fluid medication which he was denied.

Griffin became upset and began swearing, causing the nurses to retreat behind a glass window and a security guard to attend.

Griffin began to berate the security officer, swear loudly and acted in an aggressive manner, telling the guard: “I could snap your neck”.

The guard retreated into the nurses’ office in fear.

Griffin then went to the public foyer of the hospital, yelling and swearing.

He head butted the glass window of the nurses office, causing his head to bleed from the force.

He then smashed several Christmas decorations, leaving sharp plastic of baubles strewn on the floor.

Griffin then turned to the security guard, pulled down his pants and exposing his genitals which he grabbed and yelled “suck on this” gesturing towards the security guard.

He continues to yell and threw a meal tray down the foyer.

Police arrived at 3.30am and arrested him.

According to court documents, he threatened to “knock police out if it wasn’t for the uniform”.

He declined an interview with police and was observed to be moderately to well-affected by drugs or alcohol.

Griffin faced a further charge of larceny relating to the theft of a bin from Roaches Home Timber and Hardware on December 22, 2020.

Defence lawyer Riley Owen told the court Griffin failed to appear before the court a number of times because he had been homeless and lived a “disorganised lifestyle”.

Mr Owen said his client had poor mental health and was drinking at the time of offending as he had been in contact with his children who had moved away and his mother had recently passed away.

Mr Owen said Griffin intended to seek a medical review for possible schizophrenia, ADHD and depression following a traumatic upbringing when he’s ultimately released from custody.

He asked the court to take into account the fact his client had gone 12 months without further offending.

Magistrate Annette Sinclair said Griffin acted “extremely inappropriately” toward hospital staff.

She sentenced him to six months prison with one month non-parole.

Ms Sinclair made a finding of special circumstances on the basis of mental health.

He will be eligible for release on February 9.