A man who damaged beyond repair a coffee machine at the A&E department of Craigavon Area Hospital must wait until next month to learn his fate.
The deputy district judge told court: “It has to be a custodial sentence, to go to an A&E department and trash £5,000 worth of hospital equipment.”
Patrick Joseph Ward, 34, whose address is given as HMP Maghaberry, had a plea of guilty entered on his behalf to one count of criminal damage at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Prosecution outlined that the incident occurred on January 27, of this year, at around 12.40am.
Ward was observed shaking the coffee machine in the foyer of the A&E department of Craigavon Area Hospital, causing loose change and coffee beans to fall to the ground.
Court was told that the machine had been damaged beyond repair and it was valued at £5,988.
Deputy District Judge Chris Holmes stated: “This is a hybrid offence, there is no way I would be dealing with it if it were indictable.”
Defence barrister Conor Coulter informed the court that Ward was currently serving a sentence and was due for release in May.
Deputy District Judge Holmes said: “It has to be a custodial sentence, to go to an A&E department and trash £5,000 worth of hospital equipment. I think you should advise him he will be there after May.”
The case was adjourned until February 26 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.
