The man dressed in the Grim Reaper costume on the roof (Courtesy,Instagram)
A 26-year-old man has been arrested after climbing onto the roof of a hospital in North Wales while dressed as the Grim Reaper, alarming patients, visitors and medical staff.
In accordance with media outlets, Leon Gillespie climbed onto the roof of Ysbyty Glan Clwyd Hospital in St Asaph wearing a black hooded costume and carrying what appeared to be a scythe, where he stood overlooking the hospital entrance for about 50 minutes.
Witnesses said that he remained largely motionless while staring down at people entering and leaving the hospital, prompting concern among staff and the public.
Emergency services, including North Wales Police and the fire service, responded to the incident before Gillespie was safely brought down from the roof. Four police vehicles and a fire appliance were reportedly deployed to the scene. The incident disrupted activities at the National Health Service (NHS) hospital, which is operated by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
“The health board has previously stated it has a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, aggression or nuisance within its hospital sites,” a spokesperson for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board told reporters.
Authorities said Gillespie was charged with causing a nuisance or disturbance on NHS premises and refusing to leave when instructed by a police officer. He later pleaded guilty before magistrates in Llandudno.
“A 26-year-old man has been arrested and charged following the incident on the roof of Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.He was charged with other than for the purpose of obtaining medical advice, treatment or care, caused, without reasonable excuse, a nuisance or disturbance to a National Health Service staff member who was working there or was otherwise there in connection with work, and refused, without reasonable excuse, to leave the premises when asked to do so by a constable,” North Wales Police spokesperson said.
The court fined Gillespie £200 (Sh. 34,795) and ordered him to pay £50 (Sh. 8,698) in compensation and £100 (Sh.17,397) in prosecution costs.
During the proceedings, it also emerged that he had admitted to separate shoplifting offences committed earlier this year involving pet supplies from a Pets at Home store and food and drink from a Sainsbury’s supermarket in Llandudno.