Attacker punched nurse on first day of new laws protecting health workers
MAN HAD DRUNK BOTTLE OF VODKA
A YOUNG Derby man attacked a nurse who was there to help him – on the day new laws were introduced to protect NHS staff and emergency workers.
A court heard that Jordan Kerwood had drunk a bottle of vodka before self-harming and dialling 999 for an ambulance to take him to the Royal Derby Hospital.
When he got there, medics refused to let the 20-year-old go outside for a cigarette. His response was to “become aggressive and confront people” before lashing out at the male nurse, punching him in the face.
Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court was told that if Kerwood had carried out the assault the day before he might only have been handed a community order.
But, on the day of the incident – November 13 – a new charge of assaulting an emergency worker had come into force with harsher sentencing guidelines for those who attack public workers such as nurses, paramedics and police officers.
Magistrates handed Kerwood, of Ellesmere Avenue, a 16-week jail term, suspended for a year, telling him: “This is a shocking offence at a busy hospital, when you were in drink, against a medical member of staff who is there to protect you and the other people at the hospital.
“You became confrontational and violent and you were warned several times to calm down. With that in mind, and with the new guidelines in place, this crosses the custodial threshold.
“But you are 20 years old, have your own vulnerabilities and you are a young man of previous good character so we feel we can suspend it.”
A new charge of assaulting an emergency worker was given Royal Assent last month. It means people who assault or attack emergency workers face longer jail terms.
The new offence doubles the max- imum sentence from six to 12 months in prison and covers police, prison officers, custody officers, fire service personnel, search-and-rescue services and paramedics.
It also means that judges must consider tougher sentences for a range of other offences, including GBH and sexual assault, if the victim is an emergency worker.
The Government website says: “Ministers have acted to recognise the debt of gratitude the public feels towards our emergency services, and for the courage, commitment and dedication they show every day in carrying out their duties.”
Marianne Connolly, prosecuting, said the assault took place on November 13. She said that, while at the Royal Derby Hospital, Kerwood assaulted the male nurse who was refusing to let him go outside for a cigarette. He was charged with the new offence the same day and later pleaded guilty to it. Jordan Kerwood pictured leaving court in Derby
Jonathan Greenhill, mitigating, said: “The law had just changed that morning to this new offence.
“Had this case been the day before it could have been dealt with differently and might only have been a caution at the police station had it not been for the change in legislation.”
As well as the suspended jail term Kerwood was ordered to carry out 25 days of rehabilitation activity with the probation service.