A 31-year-old man kicked an Ipswich Hospital security guard in the groin while he was attempting to remove him from the premises, a court has heard.

Charlie Clay had been a patient at the hospital but refused to be treated, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

Security staff were called to remove him after he became abusive and managed to get him to Heath Road where he sat down and refused to leave, said Eleanor Sheerin, prosecuting.

The security guards returned to their duties but were then informed that Clay was back on the hospital site and was standing outside an entrance.

He refused to leave, and while sitting in a bench he kicked out at one of the officers striking him in the groin causing him to double over in pain.

Clay, of no fixed address, refused to attend court or be legally represented and the trial was heard in his absence.

Judge David Pugh said a not guilty plea to a charge of assault on an emergency worker on May 30 this year had been entered on his behalf.

After hearing evidence from witnesses in the case, a jury found Clay guilty of the offence and sentence was adjourned to allow information about his mental state to be obtained.

The court heard that Clay, who has 28 previous convictions including offences of assault and threatening behaviour, is in custody.