A drunken patient who spat at a hospital doctor as he tried to treat him has been labelled as shameful and disgraceful by a judge.

The patient was taken to Torbay Hospital by police after being injured in a street fight but was blind drunk and kicked out at officers before spitting at the doctor.

Jack Taylor Trendall had been drinking wine and rum with friends before getting into a fight with another man in Newton Abbot.

He became abusive when police were called to the fracas and turned violent once they took him to Torbay Hospital, shouting abuse in front of children in the waiting area and lashing out at officers.

When he was brought in to see accident and emergency doctor Dr Jonathan Jones he spat at him, landing a stream of spittle on his shirt

Trendall, aged 21, of Highweek Village, Newton Abbot, admitted common assault against Dr Jones and assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty.

He was curfewed for three months, ordered to pay £500 compensation, and sent on a thinking skills course as part of 20 days probation supervision by Judge Erik Salomonsen at Exeter Crown Court.

He told him: ‘You are here because of your disgraceful behaviour, your shameful and disgraceful behaviour on that night. 

‘Like every other member of society, you are entitled to the services of the police and hospital authorities to keep you safe. Your response was to become violent and to spit at the doctor. I repeat, it was shameful.’

Miss Hollie Gilbery, prosecuting, said police were called to a report of a fight in Templers Road, Newton Abbot, late on April 7 this year.

They found Trendall with facial injuries but also so drunk that he needed medical treatment. He resisted the officers before and during the trip to Torbay Hospital, where he had to be restrained as he shouted abuse in front of other patients, including children.

He kicked out repeatedly at a police sergeant as he struggled with four officers, hitting him in the shin. He carried on fighting and spat at the doctor while being treated.

Mr Paul Dentith, defending, said Trendall was so drunk he could not remember the incident. He had been drinking with friends who had gone on to a night club, leaving him to make his own way home.

He urged the judge to follow the suggestion of a probation report, which said a thinking skills course would enable Trendall to make better decisions about drinking.