A MAN who reduced a frontline nurse to tears during an incident in hospital has been jailed.

Blackburn magistrates heard Leon Uzan was demanding to be tested for coronavirus after he had been ordered out of the hospital following a mental health assessment.

He coughed on the screen separating him from the nurse and then said he was going to murder her.

The nurse called 999 but during the call broke down while speaking to the emergency operator and had to pass the phone to a colleague.

She later told police the incident had really scared and upset her.

“I have been in tears and shaking since,” she said.

Uzan, 30, of Adelaide Terrace, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour in Royal Blackburn Hospital. He was jailed for 10 weeks.

Imposing an immediate custodial sentence District Judge Joanne Hirst said she had heard how the defendant’s behaviour had a marked impact on the victim.

“You caused a significant diversion of time and attention of frontline staff at a time of national crisis, and only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate,” she added.

Peter Kelly, prosecuting, said Uzan had been assessed by a mental health practitioner after attending the hospital in the early hours. He was eventually told he had to leave after trying to sleep on seats in a waiting area.

The nurse who was later threatened was triaging people showing signs of coronavirus. Uzan was told he was showing no signs and discharged.

“He refused to leave and was later found lying on the seats,” said Mr Kelly. “He demanded to see a doctor and was heard to say he was going to smash up the hospital.”

He then confronted the nurse who was behind a screen at the reception desk.

“He coughed on the screen and then said he was going to murder her,” said Mr Kelly. “He said he was going to get her murdered and that she was going to be hunted down that night.”

When he was interviewed Uzan accused the NHS of “abuse, torture and neglect.”

“He said he understood hospitals were extremely busy due to what he described as 'coronavirus crap',” said Mr Kelly.

Scott Parker, defending, said Uzan suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and was known to the mental health services.

“He had not taken his medication because he feared he might catch coronavirus,” said Mr Parker.

“He apologises for the language he used towards the nurse. In no circumstances would he have carried out such threats. It was the language used rather than his physical behaviour which is reflected in the level of charge.”