Leon Gillespie, 26, was fined £200 after climbing onto the roof of Ysbyty Glan Clwyd hospital in St Asaph, North Wales, dressed as the Grim Reaper while holding a long knife on June 6. He stood perched on top of the healthcare building while staring directly at patients, visitors, and passersby.
Gillespie was dressed completely in black in a crow costume, giving him the appearance of the Grim Reaper, the angel of death. He remained on the roof of the establishment for nearly 50 minutes, occasionally gesticulating and making noise.
Emergency services response
Police officers and firefighters had to intervene to remove Gillespie from the roof after he showed no intention of coming down on his own. He offered no explanation for his actions, but he subsequently pleaded guilty to public order charges.
A spokesperson for North Wales Police said Gillespie was charged with causing a nuisance or disturbance without reasonable excuse to a member of the National Health Service staff who was working or present at the site. The spokesperson noted that Gillespie was not there to obtain medical advice, treatment, or care, and that he refused to leave the hospital premises when instructed by a police officer.
Court penalty and previous convictions
Gillespie was ordered to pay a £200 fine, which is approximately 233 euros, for causing a public order disturbance during the incident.
The 26-year-old was already known to authorities before climbing onto the hospital roof. Gillespie was previously convicted of stealing cat litter and cat food from a local pet store.
