Police swarmed a hospital after an armed man in a Grim Reaper costume stood on the roof, but a judge let him walk away with a small fine

A man dressed as the Grim Reaper was arrested after climbing onto a hospital roof and staring down at patients, staff, and visitors below, as reported by Dexerto. The incident took place at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd hospital in St Asaph, Wales, on June 6.

Leon Gillespie, 26, climbed onto the roof dressed entirely in black, and witnesses described the outfit as a Grim Reaper costume, though he later claimed he was actually dressed as a crow. He reportedly made noise on the roof while holding a long blade and staring down at people below near the hospital entrance.

Four police cars and fire service vehicles responded before emergency crews managed to bring Gillespie down. He later pleaded guilty to causing a nuisance without reasonable excuse on NHS premises, and Llandudno Magistrates’ Court handed him a £200 fine, roughly $269 USD.

Gillespie has a history with local shops

The court also heard that Gillespie stole between £30 and £40 worth of cat food and litter from a Pets at Home store on March 26, then took food and drinks from a Sainsbury’s in Llandudno on May 28. Those offenses resulted in a separate £100 fine, along with £100 in prosecution costs and £50 in compensation. Unusual public arrests have made headlines elsewhere this year too, including one in California where a man was taken into custody after jumping into Lake Tahoe from a rope swing.

A spokesperson for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said the trust maintains a “zero tolerance approach to abuse, aggression or nuisance” on its premises, according to a disclosure log published by the health board. Elsewhere online this week, a viral video of workers confronting rude customers drew similar discussion around standing up to disruptive behavior.

The health board operates under a broader legal obligation to identify risks of violence and aggression on its sites and to put prevention strategies in place for staff, patients, and visitors alike. Those policies extend to all members of the public who use its facilities, including students, contractors, and volunteers, with the stated goal of making sure staff and service users can carry out their duties or receive care without facing harm from others.

Under the board’s guidance, staff are encouraged to report incidents accurately and promptly. Non-emergency situations that may require police involvement are meant to be reported through the UK’s 101 system, while incidents involving an immediate threat to safety are directed to 999. Any sanctions that follow, whether for a visitor or a service user, must be documented and reviewed, with visitors informed in writing of any restrictions placed on their access to the site.