A MENTAL health patient who threw a cup of coffee at a nurse then went missing claims he acted as authorities were holding him against his will and he ‘could look after himself’.

Ian George Wales, 61, appeared in court after he previously admitted throwing the cup of coffee at the woman, causing it to strike her on the head while a patient as Ward 8 Woodland View Hospital.

However when questioned why he did this, Wales, who represented himself while escorted by an entourage of nurses, told the court authorities had put him in care against his will and he could look after himself.

The Procurator Fiscal depute said: “The witness was employed as a charge nurse on duty in Ward 8 on August 29. She was asked to escort the accused at 3.45pm.

“The accused then threw it at the witness and struck the area of her jaw. He then ran off into the grounds of the hospital.”

After Sheriff Murdoch MacTaggart questioned whether the cup was ceramic or paper, Wales replied: “It was a paper cup your honour.”

The fiscal depute continued: “A missing persons inquiry was raised and police were contacted. He returned the following day on his own accord.”

The court heard some time later the full details of the incident emerged and the accused was then spoken to by police, cautioned and charged.

Asked why he committed the offence, Wales told the court he had been in the ward for five months and hadn’t moved on since being arrested.

He told that since he had been apprehended by officers he had still not seen a copy of the warrant, claiming police refused to let him see it due to social distancing concern during the arrest.

Wales said: “I was sat on a chair rolling a cigarette and police burst in uninvited with a doctors warrant.

“They’re trying to make me out to be some kind of nincompoop – I’m perfectly capable of looking after myself without social workers or carers your honour.”

Sheriff MacTaggart told Wales he was going to defer sentencing for a criminal justice social work report for full back ground. He replied: “Thank you your honour.”