Racist Rage Lands Man in Jail After Hospital Violence
Dale Cooper has been locked up for 12 months just one day after launching a shocking racist attack at a hospital. The 57-year-old punched a female nurse in the face and hurled repeated racial abuse at security guards.
Violent Outburst at Hospital
The trouble began around 12:35am on 21 April 2021. Cooper, who has no fixed address, racially abused a member of hospital staff and threatened violence. When a nurse intervened and told him to leave, he fired back, “I have a right to be racist if I want to,” before striking her.
Security guards quickly restrained Cooper, but he continued to launch racist insults and assaults against them.
Swift Justice Served
Police arrested Cooper at the scene. He faced multiple charges including two counts of racially aggravated assault, three counts of assault on emergency workers, and six public order offences—four with racial aggravation.
Cooper pleaded guilty at Medway Magistrates’ Court the next day and was sentenced immediately.
Sergeant Craig Chalmers-Stevens slammed Cooper’s “utterly appalling” actions. “No one should tolerate his torrent of vile abuse and violence,” he said. “I’m proud the courts acted quickly. Cooper is a menace to emergency workers and the public.”
Miles Scott, Chief Executive at maidstone/" title="Maidstone" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, praised staff who “work tirelessly” through the pandemic. “Our team deserves to feel safe and respected,” he said. “Thankfully, the vast majority of patients show consideration, but a small minority do not. We thank Kent Police for their help in bringing this individual to justice.”
