Suspended jail term a ‘last chance’ for man after violent hospital incident

A Geraldton magistrate has labelled a man a “public nuisance” after an incident at Geraldton Regional Hospital last month, when he threatened staff and smashed a glass door when asked to leave. “Hospitals should be a safe place from idiots like you,” Magistrate Chris Miocevich said to Edwin Patrick Shay after he pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour, obstructing public officers and criminal damage. On Thursday, Shay reappeared in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court and was sentenced to a seven-month jail term, suspended for seven months. Police prosecutor Sgt Troy Guildersleeve told the court Shay was forcibly removed from the hospital on January 15 after becoming verbally abusive towards hospital staff when they refused his request to stay the night. “He continued to be verbally abusive and swung a wheelchair at security officers before he was forced outside,” he said. Shay then picked up a large metal object and threw it at the sliding entrance door causing it to shatter. He was arrested shortly afterwards. Shay’s lawyer Xavier Sellathambu told the court his client was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time and had very little recollection of the incident. “He’s never used this drug before, it clearly doesn’t agree with him,” he said. “He instructs he was at the hospital trying to get help coming off the drug.” Mr Miocevich said he was prepared to give Shay a chance but suspected he would see him back in court soon.“If you can’t keep out of trouble for seven months, you deserve to go to jail,” he said.