A MAN who claimed he had taken the drug spice put part of a hospital department out of action after smearing faeces on walls and equipment, magistrates heard.

Patient Shaun Michael Barker, 40, first became aggressive towards staff at York Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department, said Martin Butterworth, prosecuting.

He then smeared human faeces over walls and equipment in two cubicles.

He later told police he had taken spice.

Mr Butterworth said: “The two cubicles had to be cleaned and were out of action for five hours.”

After the court case, York Hospital warned that anti-social, violent or aggressive behaviour in its wards and departments would not be tolerated.

Barker, of ArcLight, Union Terrace, York, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to hospital equipment and using threatening or aggressive behaviour towards others.

Magistrates gave him a 12-month community order with a three-month nightly curfew from 8pm to 6pm and 20 days of rehabilitative activities.

His solicitor Craig Robertson said Barker’s actions at York Hospital were not his normal behaviour.

“He was taken to hospital because he was in a bad state,” he said. “He doesn’t recall the incident. He had been given something which might be consistent with spice.”

Mr Butterworth said Barker arrived at accident and emergency on Sunday, July 29. After he was seen by a doctor he started behaving aggressively towards staff.

He relieved himself on the chair where he was sitting and on the floor and threw his soiled clothing into a corridor, said Mr Butterworth.

Barker went into the cubicles and smeared faeces on the walls and equipment. Security staff were called and he threatened them.

Police were called and Barker was arrested.

He told police he was disgusted with his behaviour.

Mr Robertson said Barker, who has previous convictions, but none for similar behaviour, had spent a long time on the streets of York.

But he had now got accommodation for the first time in years and was working positively with various agencies.

The magistrates heard a probation services report that Barker was doing well on post-sentence supervision, following his latest release from prison.

A hospital spokeswoman said: “We are committed to providing a safe environment for all, and our staff have every right to feel safe at work. Anti-social, violent or aggressive behaviour against them will never be tolerated or accepted.

“We support any of our staff affected by such actions, and help the police and other authorities to do everything needed when such behaviour takes place.”