'Spiderman' spooked staff at Highlands' main hospital

Staff at Raigmore Hospital have told how someone dressed as comic hero Spiderman walked into reception at the accident and emergency unit last year and struck a pose in front of members of the public.

Receptionists Catriona Douglas (57) and Elizabeth Mackintosh (49) were on duty last March when someone in full Spiderman outfit including a facemask walked into reception at night then turned and posed towards people in the waiting room.

And an ambulance technician described how she and a colleague were dropping off a patient with a cardiac problem at the entrance to the unit when Spiderman appeared suddenly in front of her then went and sat crouching on a bench in a ‘Spidermanly pose’.

James Grant (36) of Ballifeary Lane has pleaded not guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear or alarm on various occasions at the hospital between Monday and Wednesday (March 21-23).

It is alleged he repeatedly attended the hospital dressed in a full Spiderman outfit and mask and while wearing the outfit he jumped out in front of the paramedic who was then transferring a patient from an ambulance and he refused to remove his mask and uttered threats of violence.

Ms Mackintosh was on duty on March 21 when Spiderman first appeared.

She said it happened between 10pm and midnight when she was on her own in reception.

"I thought it was a bit of a dare. It was a bit weird. She said he just posed towards people in the waiting room and looked around."

Ms Mackintosh was on duty with her colleague Ms Douglas the following day when Spiderman reappeared and they contacted security.

Both women said he came in, posed, and then left.

They said they were fearful when they walked towards their cars at the end of their shifts that night that he might jump out in front of them.

The following night ambulance technician Caroline Hafiz said she and a colleague were unloading a cardiac patient to A&E when Spiderman appeared in front of her.

She said he posed towards her colleague and the patient in the back of the ambulance and then went over and sat in a crouched position on a bench.

Security staff were called and the Sheriff heard Spiderman was traced to a grass verge near the Maggie’s Centre and the police were called.

Thomas Curran, (55), a security officer said they had found CCTV footage which confirmed what had happened in reception then on the night of the 23rd March they received a call to say Spiderman had reappeared.

"The female staff were spooked," he said. It was very inappropriate behaviour to be going on in a hospital site let alone A&E."

Along with a colleague he ran through reception to the entrance but Spiderman had disappeared.

He was eventually traced nearby on a very close the Maggie’s Centre and Mr Curran said the police were alerted and were on their way.

He said he spoke to Spiderman and asked him to unmask himself but he refused.

"He said he was just having a bit of fun."

Another man appeared who Spiderman introduced as his father.

When the police arrived Mr Curran went to speak to officers and Spiderman started walking away towards the Inshes roundabout.

The trial continues.

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