A SOUTHAMPTON man threatened to cut off a hospital worker’s nose and told another he would stab him during a drink and drug-fuelled outburst.

Lewis David Woods launched a tirade of verbal abuse at hospital staff after taking a cocktail of drink and prescription medication.

The 35-year-old told one staff member he would “smash their face”, while he threatened to stab another “in the neck” after leaving the hospital.

Southampton Magistrates’ Court was told how Woods was admitted to Southampton General Hospital in February after attempting to take his own life through a drugs overdose.

Woods, who was also drinking at the time, was seen by two nurses, whom he began verbally abusing.

Prosecutor Rachel Standish said: “He hurled a number of insults at them.

“He began swearing at one of them and clenched his fists.

“He said he would smash their faces, threatened to cut off their noses and told another staff member he would stab him in the neck when he left hospital.”

Ms Standish said Woods threatened a nurse who tried to stop him entering the paediatric ward by leaning over her while she was backed against a trolley.

Woods later began punching and headbutting walls, breaking a glove dispenser in the process.

Mitigating, Mark Rigby said Woods had served in the Army, from which he developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and was later discharged on mental health grounds.

He said Woods had relapsed back into alcohol abuse at the time of the incident.

Mr Rigby said Woods was “ashamed, regretful and remorseful” about his actions and had since attempted to get himself help.

Woods, who pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and one count of criminal damage, was sentenced to a 10-week prison sentence, which magistrates suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay £100 in compensation each to his two victims and £100 towards the cost of the glove dispenser.