Nurses at a Perthshire medical centre locked themselves in an office to escape a rampaging patient who told one nurse he could kill her with one punch.
George Kennedy ranted he would murder “several people” during a disturbance at Crieff Medical Centre.
The 27-year-old kicked a hole in a fire door while a staff member tried to hold it closed from the other side, Perth Sheriff Court heard.
Kennedy, of McNee Place, Crieff, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at the clinic’s King’s Centre on January 21, 2020.
Accused ‘became uncomfortable’
Fiscal depute Stuart Hamilton said: “At about 10am, the accused attended for a scheduled appointment.
“While he was at a meeting in an interview room, he began to become uncomfortable.
“He was told that he could leave if he wished.
“But instead of agreeing to that, he began to rant and said he would kill several people.
“He stood up and made his way to the door, as if to leave.
“He opened the door and then punched the wall once, before turning to face one of the community mental health nurses.”
Kennedy told her: “You don’t think I would hit you?”
“The nurse alighted on her feet and moved towards another witness in the room.
“The accused repeatedly asked her: ‘Are you scared?’
“She then backed away until she was positioned in one of the corners of the room, with the accused standing directly in front of her.”
Kicked through fire doors
Another staff member overheard the commotion from her office and ran through to assist.
“The accused was observed raising his hand and said he could kill the nurse with one punch,” the fiscal depute said.
Kennedy’s mother went between her son and the staff member.
She told him to go out into the corridor.
“Due to the accused’s continued aggressive behaviour, the police were contacted,” said Mr Hamilton.
Kennedy’s mum was unable to calm him down.
“The accused was moved in the direction of a set of internal fire doors,” said Mr Hamilton.
“He kicked them, while another nurse braced the doors by leaning against them.
“The accused continued to kick the door before his foot went through the middle, causing a 20cm by 30cm hole.
“Witnesses locked themselves in a filing room and observed the accused kicking another door, creating another hole.”
‘Concerning’ incident
Police arrived at around 10.40am and found Kennedy in the car park.
He was placed in the back of a police van.
“The accused’s mother had attended and asked about her son’s welfare,” the prosecutor told the court.
“This caused him to become agitated and punch the cage inside the police vehicle.”
Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: “Mr Kennedy was very distressed that morning and was seeking some help.”
Sheriff Alison Michie said: “This is obviously a concerning incident and I feel I should call for further reports.”
Sentence was deferred until August 31.
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