THE York man banned from all hospitals in England and Wales is to spend the next four weeks on health premises - on a judge's order.

Norman Hutchins, 53, of Rowntree Avenue, Clifton, was to have been sentenced yesterday for obtaining surgical masks by deception, but refused to leave his court cell and go into the dock.

His barrister Simon Kealey told York Crown Court that Hutchins had had to be brought "by force" to the court.

"He doesn't look in a state to be able to conduct a conversation with either of us," he said, referring to himself and Hutchins' solicitor.

After hearing that a doctor suggested transferring Hutchins from Hull Prison to a mental health unit, the Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, ordered that the 53-year-old man with a fetish for surgical masks should be confined to the Humber Centre for Forensic Psychiatry, a secure unit, until July 9.

Doctors there will assess whether he should be locked up long-term under the Mental Health Act rather than given a prison or community sentence.

Hutchins is expected to be moved to the psychiatric unit on Tuesday. He will return to court on July 9.

Last week, York magistrates banned Hutchins from entering any health establishment without lawful excuse in England or Wales, after hearing of his alleged antisocial behaviour against NHS staff in York and up and down the country.

It was alleged that his actions, based partly on his fetish for masks, caused harassment, embarrassment and distress to health workers.

The magistrates heard he did not oppose the making of an interim antisocial behaviour order (ASBO), which included the hospital ban, but disputed that his behaviour had been aggressive.

York magistrates will hear his case again on June 30, when a full ASBO may be made.

Updated: 08:54 Saturday, June 12, 2004