Southend Hospital incident saw man throw poo at officer

Richard Pole, 24, was on a suspended sentence for a weapons incident when he was arrested by police in Southend on May 21 this year.

During the arrest, he suffered a seizure and was taken to Southend Hospital and handcuffed to a bed before requesting a cigarette.

This request was denied and Pole defecated in his hands and threw excrement that landed on an officer’s chest.

He also urinated on the floor while in a police van cage.

Pole appeared in Basildon Crown Court on Monday, November 20, for sentencing.

Eleanor Gwilym, prosecuting, said: “Whilst at Southend Hospital Mr Pole was described as being extremely abusive towards hospital staff and officers.

“Following the incident in the hospital, an officer had to use pepper spray to restrain him.

“Throwing excrement on another person involves intent to cause fear or serious harm and it of course denotes alarm and disgust.”

Pole pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and two counts of criminal damage to property.

He also admitted to being under the influence of £400 worth of crack cocaine and £150 of alcohol during the incident.

Pole was subject to a suspended sentence which was breached following these offences for threats made with a bladed article in 2021.

He was handed a 12-month sentence suspended for 24 months for that sentence, which was imposed in September 2021.

Sarah Fairbairn, mitigating, said: “Mr Pole says his actions that day were vile and nothing I say is seeking to minimise his actions.

“At the time this was a man who was eating his own excrement and had a seizure, it was clear he wasn’t very well.

“A psychiatrist report concluded his moderate personality disorder is likely to be a mitigating factor and contributed to his offending.

“He has expressed genuine remorse and is showing determination to address his addiction.”

His Honour Judge Shane Collery sentenced Pole to one year and seven months in prison for his offences.