A WOMAN who has a long standing grudge over her medical treatment and is barred from entering the grounds of a hospital had to be told to be quiet after she repeatedly interrupted a court hearing.

Multiple sclerosis sufferer Linda Smith claims attempts were made on her life and documents in respect of her treatment falsified while under the care of the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

Prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court, Connor Quinn said the 55-year-old motorised wheelchair user entered Bishop Auckland General Hospital on March 9 last year and attempted to place a poster on a noticeboard which stated she had been “violated” by executive staff.

By being in the hospital grounds she breached a court order imposed by Newton Aycliffe magistrates in May the previous year.

Smith admitted this charge, but denied a second breach of a separate court order forbidding her to go into the grounds of Station View medical practice, a GP surgery in Bishop Auckland.

No evidence was offered on this charge. Both orders had since lapsed.

Smith continually interrupted proceedings and claimed everything she had written was true.

Lorraine Mustard, mitigating, said Smith, of Cheshire Place, Bishop Auckland, had not been in her right mind when she entered the hospital.

Miss Mustard said: “She has raised a great many complaints relating to falsified documents and attempts on her life while she was under the care of the NHS Trust.”

The barrister argued that Smith’s mere physical presence did not amount to harassment of hospital staff and was successful in persuading a judge not to impose a new order on her.

She was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £500 costs, but warned that she could face jail should there be a repetition of her behaviour.