Rampton patient punched '˜smirking' nurse and caused £7,800 dental damage

Gary Jordan, 54, admitted assaulting the nurse at the hospital on February 25 when he appeared before Mansfield magistrates on June 16.

Forensic psychiatrists compiled a 15 page report about Jordan, who is detained at the hospital for an indefinite period, before sentencing on Tuesday.

Judith Kirkham, prosecuting, said the punch knocked the nurse to the floor and damaged his dental bridge.

She said: “The nurse had worked at Rampton for 11 years and had worked with the defendant for eight years.

“They had a good rapport. On this occasion they were checking Mr Jordan as he came out of his room. It was like an airport pat-down.

“Mr Jordan told him later that he planned to assault him because he thought he had smirked.”

The court heard that the nurse was off work for several months and required counselling for post traumatic stress after the attack.

The nurse also had the anxiety of having to wait to see if he had been infected with hepatits C, as Jordan, who carries the infection had been bleeding at the time of the attack.

“He is back at work but says he is now hyper vigilant,” said Mrs Kirkham.

Chris Perry, mitigating, said that fortunately, the nurse was not infected by hepatitis C, and that his dental repairs would be covered by insurance.

He said: “Mr Jordan is incapable of complying with the sort of orders that might be imposed for such an offence.

“He says he has good days and bad days but because of his incarceration he is not necessarily in control of his feelings and emotions.

“He has medications which change to a very large degree how he might feel and act.”

Magistrates ordered Jordan to pay £500 compensation towards the nurse, which will be deducted at £5 per week from his weekly income support allowance of £73.