Woman kicked nurse in A&E and spat at guard
A PATIENT in A&E kicked a nurse and spat at security staff when she was told she did not need to be admitted to hospital.
Jana Richardson became frustrated when she felt she was not getting the right care and had to be restrained after swearing at staff, producing a razor blade and lashing out.
Sentencing her at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Richard Twomlow said: “When you did not get your own way you behaved in a disgraceful manner.”
The 20-year-old pleaded guilty on September 11 to possessing a blade in a public place and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.
Pamela Kaiga, prosecuting, said the defendant went to A&E at the University Hospital of Wales with cuts to her arms and legs, having harmed herself.
The court heard her wounds were treated and she was referred for a mental health assessment.
Prosecutors said she was told she did not need to be admitted as she had an imminent appointment with mental health services.
Ms Kaiga told the court: “She became verbally aggressive towards staff members.”
The court heard she swore at the nursing staff, produced a razor blade and tried to harm herself.
Security staff arrived and took away the blade, then the defendant threatened to hurt them and spat at a security guard.
Prosecutors said the security guard restrained her hands, while the nurse restrained her legs.
The court heard she kicked the nurse, causing her pain and bruising.
In a statement, the nurse said she thought Richardson was frustrated because she felt she was not getting the right support and she became verbally abusive.
She said the defendant “lashed out” forcefully and had to be physically restrained. The nurse said she felt “shaken up” by the incident, as she realised the woman was carrying blades and could have used them at any time.
She said she felt sympathetic to Richardson’s personal circumstances, but added: “We do not expect to be assaulted carrying out our duties.”
The defendant was arrested and said she had made “empty threats” and would not have hurt anyone.
She said she put the blades in her bra, so they would seem like wire if she was scanned.
Richardson, from St John’s Crescent in Canton, had no previous convictions. Claire Wilks, defending, said she would lose her accommodation if she went to prison.
Judge Twomlow referred to a presentence report and a psychiatric report, which recommended she needed ongoing treatment in the community.
Richardson was given a 14-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity. An order was made for the blades to be destroyed.