Feigns Unconsciousness to Avoid Police : ‘Red in Bed’ to Get a Rude Awakening

LONDON — A Russian emigre who has avoided police questioning by lying in a hospital bed with his eyes shut for almost three weeks will be sent home to France by ambulance, a frustrated hospital official said today.

Vladimir Leontev, 43, nicknamed the “Red in Bed” by the British press, has been known to sneak food left for him when nurses are not looking.

He was hospitalized for two days of observation after a motorcycle accident on Nov. 16. When police later took him to court to face a traffic violation charge, he slipped to the ground, feigning unconsciousness.

The traffic charge was dropped today, but police say they still want to question Leontev about $37,750 worth of French francs found on him after the accident.

But the bearded emigre is saying nothing.

He lies in a bed at the General Hospital at Hemel Hempstead, and hospital administrator Frances Shanahan said there is nothing wrong with him and she wants him out.

After consulting several doctors, including a psychiatrist, Shanahan said the hospital has decided to send Leontev back to France, with the cost of the trip by private ambulance deducted from the $37,750 he was carrying.

The British Broadcasting Corp. showed television pictures of Leontev lying in the bed with his eyes shut in its main news program Tuesday night.

Shanahan said tests have shown that Leontev could hear people and understand what was going on.

She said the staff had feared that even if police physically removed him, he would just lie down outside until readmitted.

Shanahan added that the Red in Bed has refused to answer questions since the staff declined his demands for “an English girl to read books, preferably Byron, to him.”