HE said he had been waiting almost 18 painful months for surgery to remove four rotten teeth when he finally snapped.

Ian Starr went up to York Hospital and demanded an appointment, but then lost his temper and became angry with staff and at that point they called in security staff and police.

Now a hospital surgeon has told him he will not treat him because his "abusive and aggressive" behaviour contravened the York Hospital NHS Trust's zero tolerance policy.

Consultant maxillofacial surgeon James Taylor, said in a letter: "I am withdrawing any previous offers of treatment, and I will not see you again in my clinic."

Mr Starr, 21, a landscape gardener, of Leeman Road, York, who claims he has sometimes been taking 16 paracetamols a day as well as ibuprofen to tackle the pain, said he could now be referred to a Wakefield hospital after seeking help from PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service).

"But I will have to wait another six to eight months," he said, criticising a policy which was denying him the right to treatment in his local hospital. "I pay my taxes like anyone else."

He said he developed toothache early last year but, because of a phobia of needles in his mouth, he wanted them removed under a general anaesthetic and was referred to hospital by his GP. He claimed he was told he would have to wait only six months.

He admitted shouting at staff after losing his temper, but said this was only because he was in agony and frustrated over endless delays. "I just snapped," he said. He also strongly denied being aggressive on any previous occasion.

However, the hospital today vigorously defended its zero tolerance policy, saying it had a duty to provide a safe and secure environment for patients, staff and visitors.

"Violent or abusive behaviour will not be tolerated and decisive action will be taken to protect staff, patients and visitors," said Mike Proctor, hospital trust chief operating officer.

He claimed staff had called police because they were concerned for their own safety.

He said the trust had worked closely with police to prevent violence and aggression in the workplace, and posters were in place in all parts of the hospital informing patients and visitors that inappropriate behaviour would not be tolerated.

"Mr Starr's behaviour involved him being verbally abusive to our staff on more than one occasion, his actions intimidated the clinical and administrative staff that were trying to help him and they were so concerned about their own safety at the time that they called the police.

"The actions taken to refuse to treat his condition further were appropriate and we make no apology for taking such decisive action."