Shoe lace strangler awaits her fate at court
A crazed patient has admitted strangling a nurse using a shoe lace at a mental illness hospital.
secured inpatient Mary McCallum, 30, crept up on Ayr Clinic Health Care Assistant, Gemma Johnston, from behind, placed a shoe lace around her neck and strangled her.
McCallum then grabbed hold of her hair and attempted to punch her.
Manic McCallum appeared at Ayr sheriff Court facing a string of charges of assault towards nurses at Ayr Clinic.
Her guilty pleas come weeks after an unannounced visit to the private hospital on Dalmellington Road flagged that staff and patients were left feeling “unsafe”.
the private unit cares for patients with a primary diagnosis of mental illness, personality disorder and learning disabilities.
McCallum admitted a number of charges against her between October last year and February 2018, including uttering a homophobic remark, throwing urine at a nurse, slapping, kicking and spitting on another staff member and injuring a nurse by punching her on the face.
the court heard McCallum has previous convictions which she also admitted.
the case was adjourned for the Crown to obtain social work reports.
McCallum, who remains an inpatient at the secure hospital, will reappear at a later date.