Man admits causing £4,000 damage at hospital

A police officer told the court £4,000 of damage was caused at the hospital.

A man who caused £4,000 worth of damage at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry told police he was trying to get away from someone wearing a white coat and carrying a syringe.

Niall Waterkamp, of Duncreggan Road in Derry, admitted a charge of criminal damage and a further charge of disorderly behaviour at the hospital.

Londonderry Magistrates’ Court was told CCTV showed the 33-year-old using a fire extinguisher to smash windows and a door panel at the hospital on Tuesday.

A judge said it had been “an outrageous incident in front of vulnerable people”.

A police witness told the court officers were called to the hospital at about because of a “disruptive male”.

Waterkamp was outside and being watched by staff who told officers he had smashed windows and a door panel with a fire extinguisher.

'Under the influence'

Waterkamp, who has 60 previous convictions, was arrested but was deemed unfit for interview.

The court heard he later told police he thought someone in a white coat and with a syringe was chasing him and he had broken the windows to escape.

On the day of the offending the police witness said Waterkamp was under “the influence of something”.

A defence solicitor said it had been a very bad case of criminal damage.

Opposing bail, the police officer told the court there was no confidence any conditions would be abided by.

District Judge Alana McSorley said the case met the custody threshold and remanded Waterkamp in custody so a pre-sentence report could be prepared.

He is due to appear again in court on 10 October.