Man dressed as Grim Reaper fined after climbing onto hospital roof in Wales
A 26-year-old man has been fined after climbing onto the roof of a hospital in Wales while dressed as the Grim Reaper, where he stood motionless and stared down at patients, visitors and staff, according to court records and local reports.
Leon Gillespie, from Deganwy, was spotted wearing an all-black hooded robe above the main entrance of Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in St Asaph on June 6. Witnesses described him holding what appeared to be a long blade while looking down at people gathered below. Police and firefighters were called to the scene, and the ordeal lasted about 50 minutes before Gillespie was taken into custody.
Court proceedings later revealed that Gillespie pleaded guilty to causing a nuisance or disturbance on NHS premises without a reasonable excuse. The judge heard that the costume also resembled a crow, but no explanation was given for why he chose to climb onto the roof in such attire.
The incident prompted a response from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which runs the hospital. The organization reiterated its “zero tolerance approach” to disruptive behavior, saying in a statement that it will not tolerate abuse, aggression, or nuisance within its hospital sites.
Gillespie was also charged with refusing to leave the premises when instructed by police. In addition to the hospital disturbance, he admitted to two unrelated thefts: stealing £30 to £40 worth of cat food and cat litter from a Pets at Home store in Llandudno in March, and stealing food and drink from a Sainsbury’s in Llandudno in May.
The court ordered Gillespie to pay £50 in compensation, £100 in fines, and £100 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service. He was fined a total of £200 for the hospital incident alone.
Local authorities have not disclosed any further motive, and the case has drawn attention to the strain such incidents place on emergency services and hospital security. Similar cases in the UK have led to stricter measures around trespassing and disruptive behavior on healthcare premises, with health boards increasingly seeking court orders to recover costs and deter copycat actions.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at [email protected] or on X @athompsonUSAT
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man dressed as Grim Reaper fined after climbing onto hospital roof in Wales