Denny patient threatened to grow his nails long and strangle doctor

Liam Dysis (29) told a doctor he was going to hire a private investigator to track him down, and then he mimed a strangling gesture.

Dysis, who was said to have a strained relationship with his mother, left her a phone messaging saying he was going to burn her car.

He never carried out these threats, but he did attack a male staff nurse, pinning him against a wall and yelling at him.

Dysis appeared from custody via video link at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday having pleaded guilty to assault on May 30 last year, damaging property on November 11, 2020 and threatening behaviour on June 3 and June 14 last year.

All the offences were committed in Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

Procurator fiscal depute Nhabeela Ruhmatullah said: “The accused was in Forth Valley Royal Hospital as a patient at the time. During an observation the accused began making threats towards his consultant.

“He stated ‘I’m going to hire a private investigator – that’s going to cost £6000 – to find out the doctor’s home address. Once I find the address I will grow my nails really long’

"At this time he was making a strangling gesture with his hands which caused the witness distress. The accused went on to state he was going attend at the home address of the complainer.”

On another occasion Dysis actually harmed a staff member.

The procurator fiscal depute said: "The accused charged towards the complainer and pushed him against a wall. He grabbed the complainer’s arm with both hands and held the complainer against the wall, using his whole body to push him continually against the wall.

"He was shouting ‘I hate you’ and the complainer put his hand up to protect his face, believing the accused was going punch his face.”

The court was told, he also hit out at property.

"He stood up and screamed,” said the procurator fiscal depute. “He kicked the door to the quiet room causing the hinge of the door to snap. Alarms were activated and the accused punched the wall.”

The relationship between Dysis and his mother was also cause for concern.

The procurator fiscal depute said: “It was 4pm and the accused’s mother got a voicemail from him stating ‘I’m going to come to the Outside Inn and burn you car out and kill you’.

“She contacted police and he was arrested. He told officers ‘I didn’t threaten to come up and kill her, I threatened to come up and burn her car’."

Dick Sandeman, defence solicitor, said: “This was volatile behaviour in a hospital setting. When he is well his relationship with his mother is reasonable, but when he is not well things go a wry.”

Sheriff Derek Livingston said there was no alternative but custody and sent Dysis, 23 West Boreland Road, Denny, to prison for eight months back dated to November 30.