Threat of suicide (From Evesham Journal)

Threat of suicide

2:40pm Thursday 11th October 2012 in News

 A HOMELESS man tied a cord around his neck and threatened to hang himself at a Worcester hostel then assaulted the police officer who tried to save his life.

Peter Swinbourne, aged 40, of no fixed abode – who is better known in his hometown of Pershore as Barney – admitted breaching the terms of his Asbo by making threats to harm himself and assaulting a police officer when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester.

The incident happened at St Paul’s Hostel in Tallow Hill on Monday, October 1, putting Swinbourne in breach of the Asbo made in April 2010. The court heard how Swinbourne had only been free from prison for a few hours when a disturbance was reported at the hostel at 8.30pm.

Adrian Jones, prosecuting, said hostel worker Barbara Kelly reported that Swinbourne had a black cord with him and said he was going to hang himself and appeared drunk. Mr Jones said: “She says he went to the stair rail and then began tying the cord to the stair rail and then around his neck.”

Hostel staff called police and a PC and special constable arrived, at which point Swinbourne lunged at the officer who was trying to remove the cord from his neck.

Mr Jones said the assault caused the officer to stagger, but he was uninjured.

Paul Stanley, defending, said Swinbourne had served only 10 days of a 20-day sentence when he was released.

He said: “He’s at an extremely low ebb at the moment. I think it was a cry for help, whether to get the authorities involved or not, I don’t know.” Magistrates gave him a community order for six months to include an alcohol treatment programme. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.