A teenage boy has been charged after a nurse was brutally attacked as she treated a toddler.
The serious assault, which left the woman with a broken jaw and other facial injuries, happened at the Great Western Hospital in the early hours of yesterday morning (Thursday 19 January).
A 16-year-old from Wiltshire, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared in the dock at Swindon Magistrates’ Court today (Friday) charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Crown prosecutor Asha Seenauth said the defendant was taken to the hospital after his foster family were concerned about his mental health, behaviour and delusional thoughts.
He was determined to have capacity by mental health professionals and he was discharged a short time later. But due to concerns for the safety of other children in their care, they refused to take him home and, due to his young age, doctors offered him a bed for the night.
It’s alleged that the defendant was disruptive on the ward and security had to be called numerous times.
Ms Seenauth claimed that sometime later, the boy appeared at the window of a door to a private room where a female nurse was treating a three-year-old patient.
It’s alleged the boy – who was not known to the nurse – proceeded to kick through the door whilst shouting and screaming. Despite her efforts to prevent him from entering, he managed to force his way in.
The nurse stumbled backwards and it’s alleged the defendant then proceeded to, repeatedly and with force, punch her in the face. She sustained a broken jaw, swollen eyes and other facial injuries.
“There is a small child in the room who has witnessed all of this horrific incident”, Ms Seenauth added.
She asked the magistrates to remand him in custody at a youth detention facility after the local authority confirmed it did not have any suitable accommodation for the defendant.
Emma Thacker, defending, said “alarm bells have been raised” about his mental health and said she could not object to the request for a remand in custody as there is no other option.
He was remanded in custody and will next appear at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court on 24 January.
