A MAN who was abusive and threatening to hospital staff and frightened elderly patients has been jailed.
David Atkinson, 37, breached his antisocial behaviour order by being abusive to staff at Hull Royal Infirmary who were trying to treat him.
Atkinson had been in Hull city centre drinking all day and became involved in a drunken fight with his brother.
Following the fight, he was taken to hospital where he became abusive towards those who were trying to help him.
Prosecutor James Byatt said: "It is in relation to his behaviour towards police officers, nurses and doctors and staff at the hospital.
"For up to 20 minutes, he was verbally abusive.
"The nurses had to cover his face with a cloth to stop him spitting at them. He made threats of violence against them and an elderly lady was in the bed next to him."
Patients at the hospital were left upset and frightened by his behaviour on May 2.
Atkinson pleaded guilty to breaching his Asbo twice by being abusive to police officers and to hospital staff.
He entered his guilty pleas at Hull Magistrates' Court the next day.
His barrister John Thackray said: "His best mitigation is his plea of guilty at an early stage coupled with his genuine remorse.
"He is thoroughly ashamed of himself. He is genuinely disgusted with his behaviour.
"He said sorry for using the language he did.
"He simply would like to know his fate. He had been doing well after his release last year.
"He had been settling down but this was very much a one-off. He wants to return to a settled existence. He had been living with his mother and father and was staying out of trouble."
Atkinson, who appeared in court via a video link, told the judge: "I am sorry and while I have been on remand, I have been attending alcohol treatment programmes."
The Honorary Recorder of Hull and the East Riding, Judge Michael Mettyear has jailed him for six months.
He told Atkinson: "You have a terrible record and I expect you have been sorry many, many times in your life.
"Here you are fighting with your own brother.
"You had been drinking all day and that was bad enough but it got worse. When people were trying to help you, you were rude, horrible and ghastly to them.
"You have pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and you have shown remorse.
"It has to be a custodial sentence but it doesn't need to be a long one."
Atkinson had been given the antisocial behaviour order in November 2011 and it was ordered to last indefinitely.
The Asbo was made against him after he was convicted of possessing an article with a blade, affray and for public order offences.
Atkinon, of Westlands Road, west Hull, has more than 50 previous convictions for theft, handling stolen goods, burglary and drugs.
