Violent Rampton patient lashed out at a nurse “without warning”

Brian Gormley was accompanied by five male nurses when, without warning, he punched the deputy matron in her face, on July 15, last year, said prosecutor Stuart Pattinson.

Nottingham Crown Court heard Gormley is a “segregated patient” because of previous attacks against staff and fellow patients at the high-security psychiatric hospital.

He assured her there would be “no problems” moments before he threw the punch.

His victim was knocked to the floor and the punch, which she described as “the hardest she has ever taken while working at the hospital,” drove a tooth through her lip. Her lower lip was sutured and her ankle was treated at Lincoln County Hospital.

She later said: “Being assaulted should never be presumed to be part of the role.”

The court heard she “showed the defendant trust and he repaid her with his assault.”

Gormley, who suffers from “a serious chronic mental disorder,” has 25 convictions for 78 offences – 29 of which are for violence.

Philip Boun, mitigating, said the 35-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to assault when he appeared at magistrates’ court on April 3.

"He does express his remorse and he is, he tells me, sorry for what happened,” Mr Boun added.

Recorder Jason Macadam praised the work nurses do at the hospital as “invaluable,” but added that assaults are very often not prosecuted as “it’s thought the courts are powerless to do anything.”

He ordered Gormley to pay £250 compensation from his weekly allowance of £33.

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