BODELWYDDAN, Wales — A 26-year-old man who climbed onto the roof of a North Wales hospital dressed in a black hooded costume resembling the Grim Reaper and stared at patients and staff has been fined after pleading guilty to causing a nuisance on National Health Service premises.

Leon Gillespie, of Deganwy, appeared at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court in connection with the incident on June 6 at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd hospital in Denbighshire. Witnesses reported seeing him overlooking the entrance while wearing an all-black outfit and holding what appeared to be a long blade or scythe. He paced along rooftop walkways, made unusual noises and gestured toward people both inside and outside the building.

North Wales Police and the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service responded. The disturbance lasted roughly 50 minutes before Gillespie was brought down with the assistance of negotiators and a ladder. He was charged with causing a nuisance or disturbance without reasonable excuse on NHS grounds and refusing to leave when asked by a constable.

In court, Gillespie admitted the offence. District Judge Gwyn Jones imposed a £200 fine and ordered him to pay costs. The judge observed that Gillespie appeared to have been experiencing mental health difficulties at the time. Defence solicitor Michael Pugh described the episode as a “cry for help,” noting that Gillespie had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Gillespie was later detained under the Mental Health Act for nearly a fortnight, beginning about 10 days after the hospital incident.

Court proceedings also addressed two separate shoplifting matters. Gillespie admitted stealing cat food and litter valued at £30 to £40 from a Pets at Home store in Llandudno in March and taking food and drink from a Sainsbury’s supermarket in the same town in May. Additional fines, compensation and prosecution costs were ordered in relation to those offences.

A spokesman for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which operates the hospital, said the organisation maintains a “zero tolerance approach to abuse, aggression or nuisance within its hospital sites.”

Accounts of Gillespie’s appearance varied slightly. Some reports described a Grim Reaper-style costume complete with hood and scythe-like object, while others referred to a black gown and plague-doctor-style mask or an outfit resembling a crow. One account noted that he squawked like a seagull and directed remarks at hospital staff. Whatever the precise characterisation of the clothing, the sight of a figure in dark robes positioned above the hospital entrance caused distress among patients, visitors and staff.

The hospital is a busy district facility serving communities in North Wales. Incidents involving unauthorised access to roofs or other restricted areas trigger coordinated responses from police and fire services because of the potential risks to public safety and the disruption to clinical operations. In this case, multiple police vehicles and fire service resources attended while the situation was brought under control.

Gillespie’s guilty plea meant the court focused on sentencing rather than a contested trial. The relatively modest fine reflects the nature of the specific offence under legislation that addresses nuisance behaviour on NHS premises. The additional penalties for the earlier retail thefts were handled alongside the hospital-related charge.

Mental health considerations featured in both the prosecution summary and the defence mitigation. The judge’s comments and the subsequent period of detention under the Mental Health Act indicated that underlying difficulties formed part of the background to the rooftop episode. No detailed clinical assessment was released publicly beyond the statements made in open court.

The incident has drawn attention to the vulnerability of hospital environments and the impact that unusual or threatening behaviour can have on people who are already unwell or under stress. Hospitals routinely manage a range of security challenges, from verbal abuse to more serious threats, and many UK health boards have adopted explicit zero-tolerance policies in recent years.

Gillespie’s case combined an unusual costume and elevated location with more ordinary low-level criminal matters. The shoplifting offences involved everyday consumer goods rather than high-value items, yet they added to the overall picture presented to the magistrates. The court imposed financial penalties across the board rather than custodial sentences.

Local reporting indicated that Gillespie climbed over the entrance area and remained visible for the duration of the standoff. Emergency responders prioritised a controlled resolution, using negotiation before deploying a ladder to bring him down. Once on the ground he was arrested and processed through the criminal justice system in the normal way.

The outcome leaves Gillespie with a criminal record for the nuisance offence and the thefts, along with the associated financial obligations. Whether further mental health support or restrictions followed the period of detention was not detailed in public court records. The health board’s statement reinforced its institutional stance against behaviour that disrupts care or frightens those present on hospital grounds.

In the wider context of NHS security, the episode stands out for its theatrical elements rather than for violence or prolonged disruption. Most reported nuisance cases on hospital sites involve more conventional forms of aggression or refusal to leave. The combination of costume, height and prolonged staring produced a distinctive set of circumstances that required a multi-agency response and ultimately a court appearance.

Gillespie’s actions on the roof of Ysbyty Glan Clwyd resulted in a formal finding of guilt, a fine and associated costs. The case closed with the magistrates’ decision, the health board’s reaffirmation of its zero-tolerance policy, and a reminder of the distress such incidents can cause to patients and staff who expect a hospital to remain a place of care rather than spectacle.

Prince Street Pizza has built a cult following that includes some of Hollywood’s biggest names, but the company says the key to taking its famous New York slices nationwide is staying true to the original.

The New York City-born brand has expanded from its original SoHo shop to roughly 20 locations across the U.S. and Canada, with parent company Best Buddy Hospitality CEO Lawrence Longo pointing to strong demand and a relentless focus on product quality as drivers of that growth.

“I think it’s important to stay close to the principles that made it special in the first place,” Longo told FOX Business. “And that comes down to the quality of the product.”

That commitment extends to the dough. Longo said Prince Street uses a New York WaterMaker system to replicate the characteristics of New York City water at its locations outside the Big Apple.

DOMINO’S UNVEILS NEW PIZZA IN LATEST MENU ADDITION

Best Buddy Hospitality CEO Lawrence Longo said demand and a relentless focus on quality have fueled Prince Street Pizza’s expansion. (FOX Business)

“Every time we sign a new lease, we get the water from that city, and we send it to the lab, and they create a filtration system that turns our water into New York City water,” he said.

The goal is to make the pizza feel as close as possible to the original Prince Street shop, according to Longo.

“The idea is that when you walk into a Prince Street Pizza, you should feel like you walked into a pizzeria in New York City,” Longo said.

Known for its Sicilian-style square pies and pepperoni-loaded slices, Prince Street sees room for further expansion.

“Sicilian-style pizza hasn’t been really done right at scale across America,” he said.

The brand has also attracted a long list of celebrity fans, including Adam Sandler, who Longo said has visited locations in New York, Malibu and West Hollywood.

PIZZA CHAIN TO CLOSE UP TO 50 LOCATIONS AS SALES SLUMP

People eat at tables outside Prince Street Pizza on June 25, 2023, in New York City. Known for its Sicilian-style square pies and pepperoni-loaded slices, the chain sees room for further expansion. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

Still, Longo said that famous customers do not receive special treatment.

“Whether you’re a celebrity or just a regular customer, we love everybody,” he said.

Prince Street is now focused on building a larger national footprint. Longo said he is “handpicking some of the best operators around America” with the goal of becoming the country’s leading Sicilian pizza brand.

The company is also expanding beyond restaurants.

Longo created “Delivering Happiness,” a video series starring actor Nick Turturro as a pizza delivery driver visiting guests including Dana White, Alex Rodriguez, Bert Kreischer and Ice-T. The project has since expanded through TikTok Radio and iHeartMedia, he said.

“We’re becoming a media company in a way,” Longo said.

Prince Street has also leaned into entertainment partnerships, including a Disney collaboration that recreated Little Nero’s Pizza from “Home Alone” at select locations. The campaign earned a Clio Award.

PAPA JOHN’S TO CLOSE HUNDREDS OF RESTAURANTS

A view of Prince Street Pizza on October 18, 2025, in New York City. The brand has also attracted a long list of celebrity fans, including Adam Sandler. (Rob Kim/Getty Images for NYCWFF)

CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO

Despite those new ventures, Longo said Prince Street’s growth strategy comes back to staying “true” to what made the original SoHo shop successful.

“How do you scale a cult brand?” he said. “You really stay true to what made it successful in the first place.”