A patient who had a knife with him while waiting for treatment at University Hospital Wishaw has been jailed for more than two years.
Police also found items Michael Kelly had stolen from a house and a vehicle in Motherwell.
Kelly, 38, a prisoner, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week and admitted unlawful possession of a Stanley knife at the hospital on November 21 last year.
He also admitted stealing items including a mobile phone, two jackets and bank cards from a house in West Hamilton Street and clothing and a CD set from a vehicle outside Dalziel House.
The court heard police were called to the hospital at 10.20am after Kelly arrived there with a head injury.
Lisa Lann, prosecuting, said: “Officers found him under the influence and slumped over a table in the café.
“They had cause to search him and found stolen items including bank cards.
“He also had a set of jump leads and a Stanley knife.”
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Defence agent Tom Watters said Kelly, who has a long list of previous convictions, had a troubled childhood and his drug use over the years has put him in a “downward spiral”.
At the time of the latest crimes he had been released from prison and was homeless with no support.
Mr Watters added: “He has little recollection in respect of these matters.
“He found himself in hospital because of a head injury and for some reason was in the café sleeping rather than being in accident and emergency.
“He has no idea why he was in possession of a Stanley knife and a set of jump leads.
“Clearly this is a man who needs help, but he realises behaviour of this nature will attract a substantial punishment.”
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Sheriff Daniel Kelly noted that the accused was jailed for 18 months in 2008 for carrying a knife.
The sheriff acknowledged Kelly’s difficulties but said the hospital knife charge was particularly serious as was the fact that he was in trouble again after being freed early from a two-year sentence.
Kelly was sent back to prison for two years and four months.
