Former Army medic hit out at police after absconding from Blackburn hospital (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Former Army medic hit out at police after absconding from Blackburn hospital

4:50pm Tuesday 16th October 2012 in News

A FORMER Army medic who absconded from the mental health unit at Royal Blackburn Hospital lashed out when police came to return him to the ward.

Blackburn magistrates heard refused police advice to stay calm and an officer was slapped across the face as she tried to detain him.

James Peter Coggan, 31, of Holmfield Road, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer in the execution of her duty. He was fined £50 with £15 costs. A ‘drunk and disorderly’ charge was discharged.

Peter Wild, prosecuting, said police were informed of Coggan’s absence from the hospital at about 12.30am. They found him in Weir Street and he had clearly been drinking.

Graeme Parkinson, defending, said Coggan had been in the army from 2006 until earlier this year and had served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“He lost a number of friends and has suffered severe depression since discharging himself earlier this year,” said Mr Parkinson. “He was allowed to leave the hospital but accepts he had been drinking and refused to go back when they rang him on his mobile.”