A MAN homeless for 10 years is behind bars after a string of offences including attacking a nurse and threatening a night porter over a missing packet of gammon.

Garry McKinnon lost his temper at the Willow Hotel on Renfrew Street and told the staff member he would be waiting for him outside.

During an appearance at Glasgow Sheriff Court today it was also heard that the 41-year-old punched a staff nurse at Gartnavel General Hospital.

Depute fiscal Tanjeel Maleque told the court how, around 6.15pm on December 27, 2019, McKinnon was being held in a secure ward.

He had been refused use of a telephone and began to threaten two of the staff nurses on duty, saying he would punch them and smash windows.

As McKinnon walked away from the nursing station, the court heard, he flipped over a coffee table, which hit and smashed a common room window.

Two nurses escorted him back to his room where he swung a fist at them, striking staff nurse David Letham repeatedly.

Mr Maleque said: "Both witnesses have both grabbed the accused to restrain him in a controlled manner.

"During the restraint the accused managed to throw two punches hitting staff nurse David Letham on the right hand side and then the left hand side of his face.

"The accused was then restrained by another staff nurse and eventually calmed down. 

"Police were contacted." 

On April 8, 2020, around 6.20am, McKinnon confronted the night porter at the Willow Hotel, appearing at the reception desk in what the court heard was "an irate mood".

He was worried about a lost portion of gammon from his room and questioned the staff member about it, becoming increasingly hostile.

When the night porter asked McKinnon for more information he began to shout "Do you think I'm f****** stupid and lying?" 

Mr Maleque added: "He started waving his lighter at the witness in an aggressive manner and began to feign a punch.

"He told him he would be waiting outside for him.

"The accused contacted the police. The police attended the accused's room and placed him under arrest. 

"He was cautioned and charged and replied: 'I had the right to do that because he didn't protect my property.'"

McKinnon's defence brief told the court his client had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and has been homeless for the past 10 years.

He said McKinnon hopes to turn his life around.

The lawyer added: "He apologises but at the time and in the heat of the moment he acted in the way described.

"He describes himself as a victim of his own circumstances.

"He has been homeless for 10 years and has been unable to find a stable accommodation and being stuck there is causing him to attract trouble and gather charges on his record.

"He is hopeful he can get a stable tenancy on release from custody so he can turn his life around.

"He wants to get out of the rut he is in."

Sheriff Daniel Kelly said custody was "the only disposal" appropriate for McKinnon, who had earlier pleaded guilty.

He was given a total sentence of six months in prison with two four month sentences and one six month sentence to run concurrently.