Victoria Hospital incident: Dunfermline woman jailed

Laura Close also spat in a police van after being arrested and told officers she hoped they caught coronavirus.

Close, 39, of Donald Street, appeared from custody at Dunfermline Sheriff Court to be sentenced for a string of offences.

On January 22, at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, she repeatedly shouted, swore, kicked and slammed a door, banged repeatedly on reception glass windows, threatened to assault medical staff and refused to desist.

On September 20, she sent messages to another woman in which she made threats to her. She also breached bail conditions not to contact her.

On September 23, at Donald Street and in a police vehicle, she shouted, swore, made offensive remarks and spat repeatedly.

Depute fiscal Jill Currie said that at 9.40am, police officers were called to the hospital after staff reported Close was causing a disturbance.

The depute went on: “She was volatile and was swearing at police. She was angry about having to wait so long, she said.

“The officers left but then, at 10.50am, the accused was seen banging on the glass windows at the reception and hitting a door.”

She was being abusive to staff and shouted: “I want my f****** meds,” the court was told.

At 11.30am, she was “pacing backwards and forwards, shouting, swearing and still moaning about having to wait”, said the depute.

“She was threatening to punch doctors. Police again attended and she was arrested.”

In the second incident, the victim received 55 messages from Close over a four-hour period from 1.30pm to 5.30pm.

The messages from Close include: “I will do serious some serious damage. That’s a fact.”

When police arrested her, Close threatened to headbutt one of the officers and began spitting in the van.

Her comments included: “I hope you die in a car crash” and “I hope you all get coronavirus.”

Defence solicitor James Moncrieff said his client suffered from “manic episodes”.

Sheriff Alastair Brown jailed Close for six months.