A man caused damage on a ferry between Rosslare and Pembrokeshire, before going on to assault three police officers at Withybush Hospital while in a state of drug induced psychosis.

Michael Lawrence damaged a glass door on the Stena ferry between Rosslare and Fishguard after days of heavy drinking in Ireland and after taking the Class A drug cocaine.

His Honour Judge Huw Rees KC at Swansea Crown Court heard today, Monday, October 7, how Lawrence was arrested at Fishguard Harbour on March 20 after damaging a glass door on the ferry. He was sentenced for this and ordered to pay £250 compensation  earlier this year.

As a result of his behaviour in police custody he was taken to Withybush Hospital. On March 22 PC Atkins was observing Lawrence when the 25-year-old drew phlegm into his mouth and then spat at the officer, making contact with his hand.

The following day he rushed at the same officer, spitting in his face with the phlegm going into the officer’s mouth as well as making contact with both his eyes and his forehead.

The officer said the assault made him feel ‘disgusted and violated’.

Later that day Lawrence, of Sunny Bank, Bristol, asked for a drink from another officer, PC Howells. His spit hood was removed, and he spat in the face of PC Howells.

At 10.30 pm on the same day PC Gosling was tasked with observing Lawrence in hospital. Lawrence was behaving in an ‘erratic and unpredictable’ way, becoming increasingly agitated and pacing naked in his room.

At 11pm he threatened PC Gosling verbally before standing in front of him and delivering a hard slap to the officer’s left check with his right hand.

Shortly after this Lawrence was committed to a psychiatric hospital in Bristol.

In his defence it was said that he was experiencing drug induced psychosis and did not recall the incidents. He was shown police body worn camera footage of the incidents and then entered guilty pleas.

The court heard that Lawrence had 12 convictions for 24 offences including burglary and battery.

Lawrence had spent three months in hospital before being discharged into the community and managed there.

“You should be thoroughly ashamed of your behaviour,” Judge Rees told him. “Spitting at anybody is a disgusting act, not only is it vile it can carry disease. How would you like it if somebody spat at you, your girlfriend or parents or anybody else that you knew?

“A hospital should be a place of sanctuary a place of peace and quiet for people who are ill. Not a place for people like you to behave in a way an animal would not behave to another animal.

“The police officers were doing their job [and they were] trying to protect you from your foolishness. They don’t choose their job expecting to be treated in the way that you treated them.”

Judge Rees said that he had considered sending Lawrence to prison for 12 months but thought that would put back his progress with the mental health support he is receiving.

Instead he handed down a nine month sentence for the March 23 assaults with a three month consecutive sentence for the March 23 offence.

He suspended the sentence for 18 months and ordered Lawrence abstain from alcohol for 90 days and to carry out a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a 12-month mental health treatment requirement.

Judge Rees warned Lawrence that any breach of the order would result in him coming back before the court.

“If you fail to adhere to the trust that I have put in you, you will be sent to prison,” he said.