Notts man who refused Covid treatment charged for assault on nurses

A 23-year-old man in Nottinghamshire has been charged in court after assaulting two nurses after he refused to get treated for Covid-19.
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Nottinghamshire police said they were called to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Derby Road at around 8.50am on Tuesday (February 2) after a man was said to have cracked a window, pushed a nurse and pinned another member of staff against a wall.

The officers were then forced to physically restrain the man and subsequently had to self-isolate for ten days.

Jake Brinley, of no fixed address, has appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (February 3) for two assaults and criminal damage.

Nottingham Magistrates' CourtNottingham Magistrates' Court
Nottingham Magistrates' Court

Inspector Charlotte Allardice, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Our response teams quickly attended the scene and brought the incident to a safe conclusion. The incident was immediately investigated resulting in a man now being brought before the courts.

"The officers involved went into this situation equipped with the required protective gear but knew that they risked exposure to the virus due to prolonged close contact and that it would result in them having to isolate at the very least.

"This serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by officers and NHS staff during this pandemic and the fact that they put themselves at risk in order to serve the public and protect the NHS.

"Our hospital colleagues and front line police officers are working tirelessly to bring the coronavirus pandemic under control and selflessly put themselves at risk every day.

"To be assaulted and to experience threatening behaviour when you are trying to help people and just do your job is completely unacceptable and something that we treat with the utmost severity."

Sarah Moppett, Interim Chief Nurse at Nottingham City Hospitals, said: “We will not tolerate violence, aggression or abuse towards our staff.

“Our staff continue to work tirelessly to be there when our communities need us, in what are exceptionally difficult circumstances. So that we can carry on being there for the public, we need their support; not violence or aggression.

“We are supporting the staff affected by this incident and we wish to thank Nottinghamshire Police for their prompt and effective response and support.”