A POLICE officer was called a 'Muslim terrorist' as he tried to arrest a man at Leighton Hospital's emergency department, a court heard.

Ian Freeman targeted the officer who was called out after the defendant made threats towards security staff in a side room at the medical complex's A&E.

Having run out of medication for his mental health condition, Freeman went to the hospital with his partner, but when he was left alone in the room he hit a panic button.

Prosecutor John Richards said the defendant was aggressive and was moved to undergo a mental health assessment, but he started shouting and swearing when the doctor left and security were called.

"He said he wanted to be seen by the doctor or he would destroy the room," said the prosecutor. "A couple of minutes later he pressed the panic button. He was aggressive and tried to grab hold of a security officer

"He said he was going to find out where they (security) lived and kill them."

The police were called and when the officer approached him Freeman was racially abusive, asking him "What are you going to do you? You...Muslim terrorist", before he was arrested.

South Cheshire Magistrates' Court heard a victim impact statement from the PC in which he said that he dealt "with all manner of incidents", but "could not tolerate" a challenge to his ethnicity.

Freeman, 50, of Manor Road North, Nantwich pleaded guilty to using racially aggravated words or behaviour towards the officer as well as disorderly behaviour with intent to cause the security officer harassment, alarm or distress on February 16 this year.

The court was told he had 31 previous convictions, including one for a racially aggravated assault, for which he was given a suspended prison sentence.

In mitigation, Sam Fixter, said the defendant suffered from "numerous" mental health issues, including a diagnosis of schizophrenia, and his lack of management of his medication led to his problems on the day.

"He started getting voices in his head that morning but thought he could cope. His GP was unable to prescribe the medication so he was told to go to Leighton," said the solicitor.

"He believed things were taking longer than they were and he wanted to get out, so he set off the panic alarm. After being released from custody the next day he went to see the mental health team."

Freeman initially pleaded not guilty to two different public order charges and his solicitor said the intent in the previous racial charge would have been an issue if a trial had taken place.

Magistrates fined him £200 and told him to pay compensation of £100 to the police officer and £50 to the security officer.