A DRUG addict twice grabbed a “terrified” hospital volunteer by the neck and shoulder, a court heard.

Guy David Osguthorpe yelled: “Don’t ignore me or I will snap you in half,” as the victim fled through the grounds of York Hospital, said Robert Yates, prosecuting.

She had crossed Wigginton Road to avoid him because of the way he was looking at her, but that didn’t prevent him twice grabbing her.

For Osguthorpe, Mark Partridge said he had mistaken the woman for someone else. He was addicted to drink and drugs and has a personality disorder.

York magistrates told him: “The lady you assaulted must have been absolutely terrified and horrified.”

They gave Osguthorpe a 12-month community order with 30 rehabilitative activity days and ordered him to pay £200 compensation to the victim.

Osguthorpe, 47, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to assault. He has 97 previous convictions, mostly for theft and dishonesty.

Mr Yates said the incident happened as the woman walked towards the hospital where she is a volunteer on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 19.

When the woman crossed Wigginton Road to the hospital side to avoid Osguthorpe, he shouted after her “Oi! Don’t ignore me” and whistled to get her attention.

She ignored him but then he came past her and grabbed her neck. Slurring his words so that she couldn’t understand what he was saying, he accused her of doing something.

She managed to get free but he grabbed her again before she had got more than five metres away.

Again she got away and this time she got into the hospital grounds. Osguthorpe followed her yelling as she fled into the hospital building, where she sounded the alarm.

He told the court he wanted to apologise in person to the woman, and was told that would only happen if she was prepared to meet him.