A DRUNKEN man who caused havoc in a doctors' surgery and spent three months at large has been locked up for more than eight months.

Robert Smith, 44, of Collinge Road, Cowling, entered a GP surgery in Cross Hills on November 12, 2018, after not being able to get an appointment at his usual doctors.

He was drunk and annoyed at having to wait, prosecutor Peter Adams told Bradford Crown Court.

Mr Adams said: “He made a nuisance and was loud and abusive.

“He demanded an appointment, but because he was not registered couldn’t get one, and immediately became abusive.

“Another patient, an off-duty police officer, told him to stop, to which Smith replied ‘f**k off’.

“He tried to push the officer, who grabbed his arm. Smith said, ‘It will take more than you. I will hurt you’.

“He was restrained with the help of a doctor, and continued to be aggressive and threatening even after police arrived.

“He was searched and a multi-tool was recovered from his coat with the blade locked open.”

In police interview, Smith apologised for his behaviour, and said he had used the tool to strip wire the day before and forgotten it was in his pocket.

Smith had a string of previous convictions, including numerous assaults and dishonesty offences.

Smith also failed to appear for a court hearing and was at large for almost three months before being arrested.

In mitigation, Saf Salam told the court Smith’s partner of 19 years had died in “tragic circumstances”, and he was struggling to cope.

Mr Salam said: “His father suggested he contact a professional for bereavement counselling, and that is why he was there.

“He accepts his behaviour fell below the acceptable standard and he is fully remorseful, and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

“He had been working on a motorbike which is why he had the tool, he just forgot it was there in his inebriated state.

“He has spent a month in custody which has been an awakening for him and helped him deal with his substance misuse.”

In sentencing, Judge Jonathan Gibson told Smith he had behaved in an “appalling fashion”.

“How you behaved must have caused serious alarm and distress to those there.

“There was lots of offensive swearing and abuse; even when restrained and taken to the floor you continued to make threats.

“You had a tool with the blade out in your pocket, but you did not produce it at all during the incident. If you had, your sentence would be much longer.

“This was committed in a GP surgery, a place where vulnerable people might be present, but you admitted your offending and apologised in interview."

For possession of a bladed article in a public place, Smith was handed an eight-month jail sentence.

For threatening and abusive behaviour he received a concurrent two-month sentence, and a consecutive two-week sentence for failing to surrender.