A FOUL-mouthed father who was warned by A&E staff to moderate his language while children were present said “I don’t give a f***”.

Liam John Kenneth Boulton admitted swearing at hospital staff, police officers and other patients in the emergency ward at the Royal United Hospital, Bath.

The 29-year-old had been taken there on July 22 by police over concerns he had overdosed. The court heard Boulton had been arrested on unrelated matters.

Pauline Lambert, prosecuting, said police officers were waiting for their prisoner to be seen when Boulton became more and more aggressive: “He started shouting, swearing, shouting out words.”

He was asked to calm down, but had to be restrained by police officers. He is said to have shouted, “I can do this all night.”

When Boulton was told to moderate his language as there were children present, he said, “I don’t give a f*** you c***.”

Defending, Moses Tawo said of his client: “He is appalled, disappointed and ashamed of himself.”

After losing his child and his home in Chippenham, Boulton had “picked himself up”. He was living with his mother in Warminster and had since got a job, Mr Tawo said.

But magistrates took a dim view of his foul language, which was directed against healthcare professionals. Stephen Hyson, chairman of the bench, said: “Not only was it against them, it was against the police. You showed flagrant disregard for the fact there were children there at the time.”

Boulton was fined £250 and told to pay costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.