Brighton lout Thomas Reed admits spitting at A&E nurse

Thomas Reed had gone to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton over concerns about his health.

But the 37-year-old swore at other patients and was angry he was not getting help for his alcoholism.

He was seen shouting in the main reception at other patients, and when asked to stop swearing he called one nurse a c***.

Another nurse tried to calm him down, so he spat at her and stormed off.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court it was revealed he suffered a brain injury in 2015 and has battled homelessness, alcoholism and substance misuse.

Martina Sherlock, prosecuting, said the offence took place on October 7 last year, and when he was arrested said: “So what? I spat at someone.”

The Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton

But after sobering up he sobbed in his interview with police and accepted it was “disgusting to spit at a nurse when they are there to help him”.

Ms Sherlock said Reed also sent obscene messages to his estranged family members in June and July last year.

The messages sent in the early hours of the morning said he wanted to “knock” his father and son “into next week”.

Reed also wrote: “I will rip both of your hearts out and ram them down your mouths.”

In the same night of drunken messages he abused his sister, saying he wished his whole family would die and branding his mother a s***.

To his sister he wrote: “I honestly hope you have a heart attack you fat c***.”

To his niece he wrote: “I hope you rot in a shallow pit of rats.”

His father said: “The only action I can take to stop this is to take Thomas Ree to court.

“When the level of abuse directed at me and my grandchildren reached this level of volatility, it cannot be excused.”

The court heard how Reed has battled alcohol and drug issues for more than a decade. When he sent the messages last summer he had gained his own property, but found himself alone, isolated and lonely, so he turned to drink.

Brighton Magistrates Court

Reed, of Montpelier Road, Brighton, said he “deeply regrets” his behaviour and was in tears in court.

Magistrates fined him £80 and told him to complete 15 rehabilitation sessions with the probation service. They put him under a restraining order for two years.

Reed was told: “It is clear you have issues that need to be dealt with. Your family has suffered an horrendous experience, they need to be protected from you and any lulls.

“They need a rest.”

Reed must also pay a £95 surcharge and £100 costs.