Donald Gibson requires kidney dialysis three times a week to live

Donald Gibson, 37, previously pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court to assaulting nurse David Walker at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on 4 April.

He was also found guilty after trial of racially insulting hospital security guard Martin Schulz in October.

Gibson's lawyer, Nigel Beaumont, said he had failed to appear on Thursday.

When Gibson attends the infirmary three times a week to receive life-saving kidney dialysis he is guarded by security officers and treated in an �18,000 room set up to deal with patients requiring treatment in isolation.

Verbally attacking staff

NHS Lothian has obtained a court order against Gibson banning him from physically or verbally attacking staff.

Gibson, of Springfield Gardens in Edinburgh, had to leave his previous Broomhouse home after attacks by a gang of vigilantes.

He was due to be sentenced for the assault and racial abuse charges in June but a psychiatric report was not ready and sentence was further deferred until Thursday.

When his case was called, defence agent Mr Beaumont told Sheriff Gordon Liddle: "Regrettably I have not seen Mr Gibson this morning."