Woman in court accused of causing damage worth £7k at Bromley Hospital

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

A woman has been accused of causing nearly £7,000 of damage to a glass door at a Bromley hospital.

Emma Johnson, of Station Road in Penge, has been charged with damaging the door of an ambulance bay at Princess Royal University Hospital, Orpington in September last year.

Court documents said the extent of the damage to the hospital was valued at £6,994.55. The incident allegedly occurred on September 9 last year, with the defendant accused of either intending to destroy the door or behaving recklessly as to whether it would be damaged. This is in contravention to the Criminal Damage Act 1971.

The 39-year-old appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ court on Friday, wearing a brown leather jacket and black trainers. Defence counsel Suzanna Macauley told the court that it was Ms Johnson’s first appearance regarding the matter.

The chairman of the magistrates’ bench, Laurence Cawthorne, ruled that Ms Johnson’s case would be adjourned and the defendant was released on unconditional bail. The next hearing for the case is due to take place at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on November 25 at 10am.

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which manages the Princess Royal University Hospital, has been  approached for comment. The hospital is currently undergoing an extension to build a new endoscopy unit, after being given planning permission for the project by Bromley Council in January last year.

The extension is due to be completed at the start of next year and will provide seven new endoscopy theatres at the hospital. The hospital has said that the new unit will allow staff to see up to 4,500 additional patients a year.

Pictured top: The Princess Royal University Hospital in Orpington, Bromley (Picture: Google Street View)