A 26-year-old man dressed as the Grim Reaper climbed onto the roof of Ysbyty Glan Clwyd Hospital in North Wales, frightening patients and staff below. The incident, which lasted for about 50 minutes, prompted a major emergency response from police and firefighters.
The man, identified as Leon Gillespie, was later arrested and appeared before Llandudno Magistrates' Court, where he admitted to causing a nuisance without reasonable excuse. Gillespie was fined £200 for the hospital offence and ordered to pay additional sums after admitting two unrelated shoplifting offences.
The unusual incident, which took place on 6 June 2026, left patients, visitors, and NHS staff distressed. According to North Wales Police, Gillespie, 26, from Deganwy, pleaded guilty to causing a nuisance or disturbance without reasonable excuse on NHS premises.
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Gillespie was seen pacing the rooftop, making noises, and staring down at patients, visitors, and healthcare workers. The witnesses included elderly patients and others receiving treatment. The disturbance prompted the deployment of four North Wales Police vehicles alongside firefighters from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, who secured the area while officers resolved the situation.
A spokesperson for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which manages Ysbyty Glan Clwyd Hospital, reiterated its stance on disruptive behaviour in healthcare settings. "The health board has previously stated it has a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, aggression or nuisance within its hospital sites," the spokesperson said.
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Gillespie's defence said the outfit was intended to resemble a crow, not the Grim Reaper, despite widespread descriptions of the costume as resembling the hooded figure traditionally associated with death. However, the court found him guilty of the shoplifting offences, which involved stealing cat food and cat litter from a Pets at Home store in Llandudno in March and food and drink from a Sainsbury's supermarket in May.
The court ordered Gillespie to pay £50 in compensation, £100 in prosecution costs, and additional financial penalties, bringing the total financial penalty to around £450. The incident has attracted widespread attention because of its unusual nature and the location where it occurred.
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While no injuries were reported during the incident, the case has highlighted the need for hospitals to maintain a safe and secure environment for patients and staff. The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, aggression, or nuisance within its hospital sites, and the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of this policy.
Source: Pulse.ng
