Simon Branchett lost his temper at the William Harvey Hospital

by Paul Hooper

A young man has been giving a stern dressing down by a judge after a bust-up in an Ashford hospital.

Drunken Simon Branchett, 23, lost his temper in the A&E department at the William Harvey Hospital when another patient was treated ahead of him.

He started screaming abuse at four lads, calling them "faggots", before demanding a frightened stranger drive him home.

Now a judge has lectured Branchett for his "nasty, boorish behaviour" on the day the government announced new plans to crack down on binge drinking.

Judge James O'Mahony told Branchett, of Whitfield Road, Ashford: "You should be utterly ashamed of yourself.

"If you were to ask decent people - the hard-working members of the public - what they dislike most about some features of people's behaviour in society, they will look at the behaviour of someone like you.

"You were drunk, aggressive, you used foul-language, you lost your temper... saying 'I want... it's mine... let me have it. It's me first'."

Canterbury Crown Court heard Branchett had injured himself after an accident caused through drink.

Branchett was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court

The judge said: "There you were drunk in a hospital where dedicated people were prepared to treat you and look after you.

"Your response, when you felt someone was being treated ahead of you - no doubt perfectly properly - was to get unpleasant and violent and calling people 'faggots'"

Kate Ryal, prosecuting, told how in October 2010 Branchett approached stranger Edward Fisher, who was sitting in his vehicle in the hospital car park with friend Tom Berwick in the passenger seat.

He asked for a lift, but when Mr Fisher refused Branchett snarled: "I am not asking - I'm telling you."

Ms Ryal said: "The defendant then opened the passenger door and told Mr Berwick aggressively to get out. He then got in with a women with him and got into the back of the car. He then told Mr Fisher to drive him home."

The driver - fearing he would be assaulted - drove him away and, after stopping, Branchett then demanded £20 and tobacco before getting out, she added.

But before leaving, he told the frightened driver: "If you grass me up to police I know people who will come and get you."

Branchett admitted theft and was given a nine-month jail sentence, suspended for two years. He was also given a four-month curfew.