Debbie Hicks has pleaded not guilty to using threatening, abusive words and behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress following an incident at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

Hicks, of Stratford Road, Stroud, is alleged to have claimed Covid-19 was a hoax as she live streamed video from her phone inside the hospital on December 28, 2020.

The 46-year-old pleaded not guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates Court today.

Prosecutor Matthew McCabe alleged that Hicks had visited the hospital on two days on December 27 and 28 last year, but said the charge relates only to the second day.

Mr McCabe said: “We say that Ms Hicks arrived at the hospital on the Monday at 2.37pm and filmed staff and patients to try and show that the hospital wasn’t busy in a bid to prove that coronavirus was a hoax.

“Ms Hicks attended the main tower and was about to begin filming and live streaming on her Facebook page when she was challenged by two NHS workers and we say was aggressive towards them.

“She was told 'you can’t film here' because of staff and patient confidentially. Her reply was that she pays her taxes and can film anywhere.

“She is alleged to have begun filming the staff, making them feel physically threatened by her presence.

“At the time the staff had been dealing with very seriously ill patients suffering from covid-19 symptoms.”

Stacy Stroud defending said: “Ms Hicks admits being at the hospital but not being abusive or threatening to members of staff. Her conduct was reasonable."

District Judge Nicholas Wattam said that Ms Hicks would stand trial at at Cirencester Courthouse in July 12.

Ms Hicks was released on bail with a condition not to enter any hospital premises except for attending an appointment.

Hicks has previously pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with an order to leave a Freedom Rally at Stratford Park in Stroud on November 7, 2020. She will stand trial for this on June 28.