AN ABUSIVE lout who assaulted a police officer at Inverclyde Royal Hospital after refusing to leave has been ordered to pay back to the community for his 'unacceptable behaviour'.

Michael Jannetts had been placed on a structured deferred sentence for six months in November last year and was told to stay out of trouble, having been convicted of two offences from 2021.

However, the 39-year-old failed to take the chance of a more lenient punishment - as a follow-up hearing at Greenock Sheriff Court was told that a 'poor' progress report was 'not satisfactory'.

Jannetts attended IRH shortly before midnight on July 8 three years ago alongside his mother who had been admitted to the accident and emergency department.

The court heard that Jannetts was told he had to wait in the reception area and he became 'argumentative' with hospital staff before being asked to leave 'due to his mannerisms'.

Police were requested to assist and an under the influence Jannetts was 'immediately hostile' towards officers, shouting, swearing, telling them that he was going nowhere and calling them 'bams' and 'idiots'.

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He was eventually apprehended and taken to a police vehicle but hit his head on the ground during the arrest and had to be escorted back to A&E for a medical assessment amid 'concern for his wellbeing'.

He continued his abuse of the constables, referring to them as 'scum', and tried to flee before being seen by a doctor.

A prosecutor told the court: "Once admitted to a treatment room he was on a bed and then swung his legs over the side of the bed stating his intention to leave.

"Officers attempted to calm him, however, he became more agitated and leaned backwards, raised both legs kicking out towards officers and kicked one to the chest.

"He was restrained and assessed by a doctor and deemed fit to be released.

"No injuries were reported."

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Defence solicitor Aidan Gallagher said 'alcohol was clearly an issue' in the incident.

Mr Gallagher said: "He has been trying to curtail his level of drinking since.

"Intoxication and injury is no excuse but that appears to be the state he found himself in.

Police were being dutiful towards him in ensuring his welfare. They should not be subjected to that type of abuse either verbal or physical."

Sheriff Anthony McGeehan said: "Mr Gallagher has recognised that police have a difficult enough job without being subjected to the type of behaviour in this offence, as well as staff and other persons at IRH.

"This took place within the A&E ward where people come for help, where medics and other NHS staff carry out a very difficult job which should not be made worse or more traumatic by the type of behaviour that you subjected them to on that particular evening."

Jannetts, of Arran Drive in Auchinleck, will be supervised for 12 months and must complete 150 hours of unpaid work within a year as a direct alternative to custody.

The sheriff told him: "You have caused a disturbance to the community and made more challenging the job of our public servants and you can pay back to the community."