A 26-year-old man has been fined after climbing onto the roof of a hospital in Wales while dressed as the Grim Reaper, causing alarm among staff, patients and visitors.
The incident took place at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd Hospital in St Asaph, Denbighshire, where the man, identified as Leon Gillespie, was seen standing motionless on the rooftop wearing a black hooded outfit and carrying what appeared to be a long-bladed scythe.
Witnesses watched in shock as Gillespie overlooked the hospital entrance during the unusual 50-minute incident, prompting the deployment of four police vehicles and a fire service unit.
Gillespie, from Deganwy, later pleaded guilty at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court.
He was fined £200, ordered to pay £50 in compensation, £100 in court costs, and an additional £100 surcharge.
No explanation was given in court for his behaviour, although his costume was also described as resembling a crow.
In the same hearing, Gillespie also admitted stealing £30 to £40 worth of cat food and cat litter from Pets at Home on March 26, as well as food and drinks from Sainsbury’s on May 28. Both thefts took place in Llandudno.
A spokesperson for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said the organisation maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards abuse, aggression and disruptive behaviour on hospital premises.
North Wales Police said Gillespie was charged with causing a nuisance or disturbance to NHS staff without a reasonable excuse and refusing to leave the hospital after being instructed to do so by police officers.
