Woman jailed over attack on nurses trying to help her
AWOMAN who attacked two hospital nurses who were trying to save her from a suspected overdose has been jailed.
Deborah Roberts, 45, was rushed to Macclesfield Hospital but as nurses tried to treat her she became ‘vile’, a court heard.
Firstly she became verbally abusive then punched nurse Lisa Nadin to the head and spat at her.
When her colleague Nicole Constantina came to help, Roberts gripped her by the stomach causing ‘a great deal of pain’.
Roberts was arrested but while in custody continued her ‘barrage of abuse’ against nurse Gillian Beach and detention officer Sarah Heaps, who was punched to the back of the head giving her concussion.
At Stockport magistrates’ court, Roberts, of Turner Rise, Bollington, admitted two charges of assault, assaulting a police constable and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.
Sentencing her to 18 weeks in prison, magistrate Jane Ingram said: “This was prolonged, in a public place and on public servants trying to help you.”
Lynne Rogers, prosecuting, said: “The defendant was taken to hospital on August 8 around 8.45pm after [fears she] had taken an overdose of alcohol and medication. Lisa Nadin was trying to put a cannula in her arm when she became verbally abuse and punched her about the head and spat at her. Nicole Constantina came to her aid and the defendant grabbed her by the stomach with both hands for five minutes which caused a great deal of pain. PC Binder heard the defendant shouting ‘I will rip your head off’.
“In custody Gillian Beach, a nurse, sustained a barrage of abuse. The defendant spun and punched detention officer Sarah Heaps to the head, leaving her with concussion. PC Binder described the noise of the impact as ‘horrific’. The court was told that a relative had been worried she had taken a overdose, but it was later discovered she had only consumed alcohol.
Shirley Fitton, defending Roberts, said her actions were caused by ‘excessive drinking and medication’, adding: “At the time she was undiagnosed as having bi-polar. She admits it was appalling behaviour.” Roberts told magistrates: “I feel terrible. I should have been respectful of nursing staff.”