Convicted killer causes £45k damage in Stafford hospital rooftop protest
A convicted killer caused more than £45,000 worth of damage to a historical hospital in a rooftop protest, a court heard.
Michael Grocott smashed windows and clambered on to the roof of Norton House, a building at St George's Hospital in Stafford, while getting treatment there.
The convicted murderer smashed roof tiles, throwing some at hospital staff and emergency services, ripped off leading and pulled down an aerial to cause more damage.
Patients and staff had to be evacuated from the building as negotiators tried to talk Grocott down, but he told them it wasn't an escape or suicide attempt - it was a protest against his conviction.
In 2010, Grocott was jailed for life for the murder of Robert Freeman in Stoke. He was ordered to serve a minimum term of 14 years in jail before his case could be reviewed for parole.
But after Grocott, now aged 33, from Bentilee, Stoke, pleaded guilty to criminal damage to the hospital, Recorder Mr Stephen Thomas extended that minimum term by nine months.
He said only a consecutive sentence could prevent him acting with impunity in the future.
"You formed a plan to go on to the roof of Norton House to make a protest against your conviction, which you have always challenged," Recorder Thomas said.
"You got on to the roof via a window and proceeded to cause damage over a number of hours before rescue services managed to persuade you to leave the roof."
Miss Lisa Hancox, prosecuting, said the incident in June last year started when a nurse heard the sound of windows being broken.
She saw Grocott with a ruckscack, standing on a ledge outside. He told her: 'I have had enough, I'm sick of the way I'm being treated'.
The defendant made his way on to the roof, threatening to jump if the police came. Trained negotiators were brought in to talk to him using a fire brigade 'cherry picker' rising platform. Grocott responded by ripping down an aerial and used it to smash roof tiles to throw at staff.
The stand-off lasted for two hours before Grocott was finally persuaded to come down.
The repair bill for the roof came to £45,600, Miss Hancox told Stafford Crown Court on Monday.
When questioned, Grocott said it was a protest against his conviction and was not an escape attempt. He took the rucksack because he planned to be on the roof for three days.
Mr Paul Hiatt, defending, said Grocott maintained he was drunk at the time of the protest. He is now detained at HMP Dovegate in Uttoxeter and there have been no further problems.
