A MAN who drunkenly abused paramedics and hospital staff has vowed he is off the booze after a relapse earlier this month which saw him taken to A&E.

Philip Lawrence was attended to by paramedics at Swindon bus station earlier this month and after becoming abusive, was transferred to accident and emergency.

Then, police were called to Great Western Hospital when doctors found nothing wrong with the 34-year-old, and he was arrested over fears for staff safety.

Lawrence told Swindon Magistrates Court on Wednesday that he is now completely dry and extremely sorry for his actions, which happened during a relapse after some family problems.

Pauline Lambert, prosecuting, said: "In the statement of PC Knowles, she says on June 10 at 7pm she had attended the accident and emergency department at Great Western Hospital following reports of a man causing disorder.

"She was aware that earlier the same day, colleagues had attended the bus station in Swindon town centre after Mr Lawrence had been verbally aggressive towards ambulance staff, who had been called to attend to him.

"He was taken to Great Western Hospital because he was drunk and incapable of looking after himself."

She said he had to be restrained and was surrounded by nursing staff and paramedics while shouting and swearing.

"PC Knowles places handcuffs on to Mr Lawrence for the safety of the hospital staff because he may have hurt somebody," she added.

"He did not require any medical treatment, and staff at the hospital wanted him to leave. She escorted him out of the building, with him kicking and lashing out.

"She could not calm him down, and he said 'just you wait until my dad hears about this.' He was then arrested for being drunk and disorderly."

Lawrence, representing himself, told the bench he was receiving treatment for alcoholism and was doing well, while the incident on June 10 had been a relapse after some strain had been put on his family.

"I am now 10 days sober and doing really well," he said. "I am working on a recovery programme, and just want a normal life now. I am back in work and want to do well going forward.

"There is a reference from my sponsor, and I go to meetings four or five times a week."

Lawrence added he had not taken his medication the morning of going to court.

When asked why, he said: "I wanted to feel everything that happens here, and when I am on my medication I'm not all there.

"I wanted to be able to be sober when I spoke to you about what happened."

Lawrence, 34, formerly of Booth House, was given a 12-month conditional discharge for being drunk and disorderly in a public place.

Speaking after the case Oonagh Fitzgerald, director of human resources at the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Any form of verbal or physical abuse of NHS staff is completely unacceptable.

“Last year we launched our Respect Us campaign to remind patients and visitors that abuse towards staff will not be tolerated.

"We also want staff to feel confident in reporting any rude, intimidating or antisocial behaviour and know that we do everything we can to keep them safe at work.

“A security team patrol all areas of the Great Western Hospital 24/7 and we have the full support of the local police. Patients who continue to be abusive despite a warning can be refused treatment and referred back to their GP.

“Fortunately the majority of our patients treat our staff very well and are a delight to look after.”