A mental health nurse was assaulted by a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia at a psychiatric care unit, resulting in the nurse sustaining two scars from the incident. The attack took place at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, where the patient, Alexander Horton, had been admitted just three days earlier. Horton unexpectedly attacked the nurse during her routine nightly checks, causing injuries to her face with a sharpened pen.
The nurse recalled feeling the pen penetrate her left eyebrow and seeing blood on her face during the assault, which lasted about eight seconds until other staff intervened. She was quickly taken to the hospital’s emergency department for treatment. The nurse suffered two lacerations on her left eyebrow and one on the side of her left eyebrow, with a broken pen recovered from the scene.
Following his arrest, Horton requested medication, expressing feelings of impending doom and entrapment. He attributed his actions to missing his prescribed medication that day, acknowledging a moment of snapping before regretting his behavior. Horton, who had no prior criminal record, later admitted to intentional strangulation and a wounding offense under section 18.
In a victim personal statement presented in court, the nurse expressed ongoing fear and vigilance while working, especially around male patients. The scars serve as a constant reminder of the traumatic incident, affecting her daily life and interactions. Despite the physical and emotional impact, the nurse considers herself fortunate that her injuries did not result in permanent damage to her vision.
During sentencing, the judge highlighted the severe impact of Horton’s actions on the nurse, emphasizing the profound effect on her well-being. Consequently, Horton was placed under a hospital order in accordance with section 37 of the Mental Health Act.
REWRITE_BLOCKED: The original content contains specific formatting and technical details that cannot be rewritten effectively.
