A PATIENT who kicked a police officer while waiting in A&E at Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary blamed his violence on his drink being "spiked".

Frankie Hodgson, 38, became agitated and abusive when the police officers who were waiting with him said that he would have to wait to be medically checked over, the city’s magistrates court heard.

It was this point that he kicked one of the officers in the back. The defendant, of Borrowdale Gardens, Carlisle, admitted a police assault.

Prosecutor George Shelley said the assault happened shortly after 10pm on August 28 while two officers were waiting with Hodgson. “He didn’t want to wait in A&E and asked the officers to take him into custody,” said the lawyer.

“The officers explained that this would not be possible as he needed to be checked before he was put into custody. The officer took hold of his arm to get him back on to the bed.

“But the defendant kicked out, making contact with the officer’s back.” The court heard that Hodgson has 75 previous offences on his criminal record, including nine involving violence.

Kate Hunter, for Hodgson, said he was injured in a car accident and this was why he had missed his scheduled court hearing earlier this week. That accident had left him suffering fits. “He’s due in hospital tomorrow for a CT scan,” said the lawyer.

She outlined how the defendant had also been injured in a workplace accident, when a 200kg sheet of metal had fallen on him. Of the offence at the hospital, Miss Hunter said Hodgson had immediately apologised.

She added: “He believes that he was under the influence of something; he believes he was spiked and as a result of that scenario he can’t remember much of the incident, but he accepts the officer’s account."

Hodgson also accepted he should not have used the abusive language he aimed at the officers. Magistrates adjourned the case until October 4 so that a background report can be prepared by the Probation Service.

As the case concluded, Hodgson reiterated his remorse, telling magistrates: "I apologise."