A Warrnambool man is accused of threatening hospital staff with a syringe he brought to the emergency department and used to inject drugs.
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Jamie Chatfield, 58, of Armstrong Grove, appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with making threats to inflict serious injury, possessing controlled weapon and shop theft.
The court heard Mr Chatfield attended a chemist in Warrnambool on September 20 about 7pm and allegedly stole a packet of shaving razors and two boxes of perfume.
He was later identified by police on CCTV.
Then earlier this week, the man attended the Warrnambool Base Hospital emergency department for treatment for an injury.
The court heard he was loud and erratic and taken to a safe assessment room, where he was later found injecting a substance with a syringe.
Mr Chatfield allegedly removed the syringe and held it in a threatening manner toward a security member.
Police were called, they attended and Mr Chatfield was arrested.
He was found in possession of the syringe, a stanley knife and a shotgun cartridge.
It is not known what he was injecting.
On Thursday, police prosecutor Senior Constable Paul Harris said the man was arrested earlier that day and was "very cooperative with police".
He said Mr Chatfield had an appalling bail history due to substance problems but was not believed to be a flight risk.
"He has committed some horrendous crimes in the past, this isn't one of them," the prosecutor said.
"And I hope he grows out of it because he's getting too old for it."
The court heard Mr Chatfield had 51 pages of criminal history.
Barrister Cameron Baker said the man had spent a significant period of his life in custody and there were concerns he was becoming instutiliaionsed.
Magistrate Mark Stratmann said the man had showed compelling reasons why he should be released from custody, including stable accommodation, family support and links with community services.
Mr Chatfield was released on bail.
He is expected to plead guilty to the offences on December 6.
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Jessica Howard
jessica.howard@warrnamboolstandard.com.au
jessica.howard@warrnamboolstandard.com.au
