A CRY for help at a psychiatric hospital saw a man end up before magistrates on Thursday.

Darlington man Robert Sowden, once a patient at high security Rampton Hospital, has a history of violence and mental health problems.

After recognising that his mental health was deteriorating, Sowden went to Darlington’s West Park hospital – where his psychiatrist is based – to beg for help on Saturday, October 1.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court heard that Mr Sowden was assessed, with crisis team clinicians finding that he did not need to be admitted on Saturday, October 1.

Prosecutor John Garside said Sowden reacted by shouting and swearing at staff before locking himself in a toilet cubicle and refusing to leave.

He was arrested and charged with causing a disturbance and a nuisance of himself on NHS premises.

Sowden was also charged with criminal damage after smashing a window at a custody suite in Darlington Police Station.

Representing himself, Mr Sowden apologised but said he was baffled and frustrated after being turned away a number of times when seeking help at the hospital.

A probation worker said Mr Sowden, of Wiltshire Place, had been known to the probation service for years but had become a different man since learning to manage his mental health.

He added: “His appearance and demeanour was aggressive, nothing like the gentleman before court today.

“This case highlights difficulties with mental health teams - he goes to a place that has his information and they can’t see him.

“I understand his frustration as he recognises signs early on and needs to get himself under control, he’s doing the best he can.

“Pulling him back into the criminal justice system will solve nothing, we are not mental health experts.”

Sowden, who pleaded guilty to both charges, was handed a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £687 compensation for the broken window.