Patients, visitors and staff at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd Hospital in North Wales were horrified to see a man appear on the roof above the main entrance holding a long blade to his throat last June 6, 2026. The case went viral after it was revealed in court that the would-be assassin staged the stunt after getting into trouble for lesser offenses.
Gillespie appeared in court wearing black all over his body. According to witnesses, he resembled the Grim Reaper. The suspect revealed in court that he was wearing a crow outfit. He had a long knife, made a lot of noise, and was looking down on the people below.
North Wales Police and the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service responded to the scene in many vehicles, including several police cars. They managed to take him down safely from the roof. There were no injuries.
Gillespie pleaded guilty at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court to causing a nuisance without reasonable excuse on NHS premises. Magistrates fined him £200 for the June 6 incident. No official motive was given.
The same hearing covered two earlier shoplifting cases. On March 26, 2026, he stole £30-40 worth of cat food and litter from a Pets at Home store in Llandudno. On May 28, 2026, he stole food and drinks from a Sainsbury’s store in the same town. In addition to the £100 fine, £100 prosecution, and £50 compensation for the cat supplies and food stolen, the combination of the rooftop spectacle and the cat thefts drove the online hysteria.
A spokesperson for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which runs the hospital, stated:
“The health board has previously stated it has a zero tolerance approach to abuse, aggression or nuisance within its hospital sites.”
Sensational details travel fast online, especially when a dramatic costume collides with ordinary court records. Readers benefit from separating verified facts the date, the plea, the fine, the health board’s stated policy from the framing that makes a story shareable. Responsible reporting keeps the attribution clear and the record intact.
