Drug user assaulted hospital staff trying to help him
WHILE he had mental health issues, because he was on drugs at the time he did not have a mental health defence in law, his solicitor said.
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A 41-YEAR-OLD man who assaulted Toowoomba Hospital staff trying to help him has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment.
Alexander William Andrew Harris had been mentally unwell at the time, his solicitor Amber Acreman told Toowoomba Magistrates Court.
However, because his condition was drug-induced he did not have a mental health defence at law, Ms Acreman said.
Police prosecutor Nikola Prince told the court Harris was taken to the hospital on April 3, last year, and assaulted two medical staff who were trying to treat him.
Ms Prince submitted the two counts of serious assault of a public officer arising from the incident had to be seen in the context of a mental health assessment.
"But he used personal violence against people doing their job who were trying to help him," she submitted.
Harris pleaded guilty to both counts of serious assault as well as to possessing cannabis and causing a disturbance at the hospital that same day; and unrelated matters of driving while disqualified by court order on West St, driving unlicensed on Lewis St; and breaching bail by failing to report to police on June 21, July 15, and September 20.
At the time of some offences he had been subject to parole having been released from a 12-month jail term imposed by the same court on June 29, 2018, for burglary and other offences, the court heard.
Ms Acreman said her client had been taken back into custody on February 7 and appeared in court by video link from Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre.
Her client was of high intellect but a combination of mental health issues dating back to when he was 12 and in more recent years his use of illicit drugs had contributed to his criminal history.
Though he didn't have a defence in law, her client was "clearly deprived of a capacity" to realise what he was doing at the hospital due to a psychotic episode, she submitted.
Magistrate Graham Lee said Harris's actions at the hospital were "disgusting".
"It was disgusting behaviour on your part," he said.
"Those people were trying to help you."
Mr Lee sentenced Harris to six months in jail, wholly suspended for 18 months, and on the breaches of bail he was sentenced to three months in jail but released on parole immediately. Harris was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver's licence for two years.
Originally published as Drug user assaulted hospital staff trying to help him
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