A mentally ill man who committed two knife-point robberies in Clacton has had an interim hospital order extended for another 28 days.
Before Ipswich Crown Court today (Wednesday) was Simon Harrigan, 37, of Granville Road, Clacton, who has admitted stealing cash in a robbery at Best One newsagents in High Street and stealing cash during another robbery at Coral betting shop in Station Road, both on November 4 last year.
He has also admitted threatening two people with a knife during the robberies.
Judge David Goodin said Harrigan had been diagnosed as having a treatable mental health disorder and doctors had recommended he should be sentenced to a hospital order rather than custody.
However, Judge Goodin said he couldn’t make a hospital order under section 37 of the Mental Health Act as there wasn’t currently a bed available at an appropriate hospital.
He said that as soon as a bed became available Harrigan would be brought back to court but in the meantime he would make an interim hospital order for 28 days.
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