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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Neil Docking

Woman beater's rampage at McDonald's and Royal Liverpool Hospital

A convicted woman beater went on a rampage at McDonald's then attacked and racially abused hospital staff.

William Farrell once broke a woman's jaw after she told him off for urinating in a bathroom sink after a date.

Last September, the serial burglar was locked up for two and a half years for trying to break into two homes.

READ MORE: Cocaine fuelled burglars snatched gin and wine from hotel bar

But he found himself back in the dock on Monday over a night of "horrific" offences and "disgraceful" behaviour.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the 28-year-old faced two allegations of assault and one of criminal damage, relating to accusations made by family members.

Bernice Campbell, prosecuting, said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) offered no evidence on these charges, after each complainant made retraction statements.

The CPS also offered no evidence over an alleged assault at the McDonald's in Kensington in the early hours of March 23, 2021.

Ms Campbell said: "Though this is captured on CCTV, which shows very clearly the defendant spitting at his girlfriend, who was also perhaps going to be a witness for counts one, two and three, she refused to make any statement to assist the crown."

The prosecutor said after "the spitting incident", his girlfriend went into the restaurant, "pursued by the defendant".

She said: "She ran behind the counter and stood by one of the employees, Ellie Mulhall. Miss Mulhall describes her as shaking and she appeared terrified."

Farrell was "shouting incoherently" and kicked a hand sanitiser out of its holder, then grabbed a wet floor sign and threw it at the counter.

He walked outside, picked up a flower pot valued at £50 and threw it into the restaurant, causing it to smash, then hurled a large board into the entrance doorway.

Farrell left the scene after staff activated an emergency button and blocked window hatches, but returned shortly afterwards on a bike, holding a bottle of alcohol.

Ms Campbell said police arrived, handcuffed Farrell and took him to the ground, due to his "erratic, violent and agitated state".

One officer thought he was on drink or drugs and described how he was "lashing his head forward to bite her and called her a tramp" and another slur, but he was not charged over that conduct.

Farrell was put in a caged vehicle and taken into custody, but then rushed to Royal Liverpool Hospital by ambulance at 3am, because he "couldn't be roused".

Ms Campbell said it was thought he'd taken tablets and he was assessed by Dr Alicia Waite, who made various attempts to wake him up, before squeezing his shoulder.

She said Farrell sat up and tried to punch the doctor in the face, but she blocked the blow using her forearm, and police put him in handcuffs.

The court heard security staff were called, including Maria Haynes-Garcia, who tried to help officers restrain Farrell, only for him to repeatedly call her a racial slur.

He then used a different racial slur towards security guard Jacqueline Cabungan, who was "shocked and distressed at the horrible racist language used against herself and her colleague".

Dr Waite said Farrell was her patient and she had to treat him, despite the pain in her wrist from his punch.

She said: "To be assaulted whilst working is shocking. I am there to care for patients and should not have to worry about my safety."

Farrell, of no fixed address but formerly of Old Swan, admitted criminal damage, assault by beating of an emergency worker, and two counts of racially aggravated threatening behaviour.

Kate Morley, defending, said: "Mr Farrell doesn't remember a great deal about what occurred that evening but he's had sight of the footage.

"He's sorry for his actions. His mental health was at a low point and your honour has heard reference to tablets."

Ms Morley said Farrell was physically restrained for five minutes, and was crying, before he assaulted the doctor.

She said it was "an instinctive reaction" when Dr Waite grabbed his arm, but he apologised and there was no excuse for the assault or his racist behaviour.

Judge Louise Brandon said: "All three are horrific offences - I would struggle to tell you which one I thought was the worst."

Farrell has 27 previous convictions for 63 offences, dating back to his youth, including inflicting grievous bodily harm in November 2019.

Ms Morley said: "Putting it bluntly, he's sick and tired of prison."

She said he hoped to get help in jail with his mental health and drug and alcohol issues.

Referring to the assault, Judge Brandon said: "This was an absolutely disgraceful piece of behaviour, committed against a doctor who was trying to do her job in extremely difficult circumstances during the pandemic."

Commenting on the racist abuse, the judge said: "This was a sustained incident, involving repeated vile racist remarks directed towards the two women."

Jailing him for 11 months, Judge Brandon said: "The public need a break from you and your offending."

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