A BARROW man barricaded himself into a hospital ward with a bed because he didn’t want to be discharged.

Anthony Lee Brewis had been an inpatient at the mental health ward at Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal before the offence on January 11.

The 34-year-old, who described himself as alcohol-dependent and said he steals on a daily basis, then threatened to harm himself using a plastic cup.

At South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court prosecutor Pamela Fee said: “Staff contacted police and asked for assistance in removing the defendant.

“He had been discharged because of his behaviour but was refusing to leave.

“He refused to come out of the building and had barricaded himself in a room by pushing a hospital bed against the door.

“He said he would only come out if he could speak to a female patient.

“He smashed a plastic cup and threatened to use it to self-harm.

“It took one hour of negotiations before he came out of the room.”

The court heard Brewis, who is formerly from Penrith but now lives at The Well in School Street in Barrow, has 30 previous offences on his record.

He is also currently subject to a community order .

Defence solicitor Maureen Fawcett said Brewis had been undergoing an alcohol detox at the time of the incident.

“He accepts he would not leave,” she said.

“He has attended here today with a supervisor from The Well where he is now staying.”

Brian Carruthers from the Probation Service said Brewis had been referred to the Prolific Offender Team.

Brewis pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage and creating a disturbance on NHS premises.

District Judge Gerald Chalk told him: “This would have caused a great deal of trauma and distress to people working at the hospital and other patients and it does concern me.”

Brewis was given a 10-week curfew requiring him to remain indoors between 10pm and 7am.

He must also pay £1,005 compensation at a rate of £20 per month, the judge ordered.