A nurse shared her frightening experience of being assaulted by a mentally ill patient at Broadmoor hospital. The patient, Jonty Bravery, attacked Linda McKinlay, leaving her with scratches on her face and eye. Bravery was sentenced to 16 weeks in jail for the assault on McKinlay and her colleague Kate Mastalerz. The incident was captured on body-worn cameras, showing the nurses struggling with Bravery before other staff intervened.
McKinlay, who had never been attacked in her long career at Broadmoor, described the ordeal as shocking. She required medical attention for her injuries. Mastalerz also suffered bruises during the altercation, describing it as a highly stressful situation.
The Crown Prosecution Service condemned the violence, emphasizing that caregivers should not face such aggression. Despite Bravery’s absence at the trial, evidence including video footage and the nurses’ testimonies led to his conviction.
In addition to the recent assault, Bravery previously received a life sentence for throwing a child off the Tate Modern balcony in 2019. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring highlighted Bravery’s ongoing mental health issues and the likelihood of him not being released after the minimum term of 15 years.
Bravery, who has a history of violence towards hospital staff, was fined £350 in addition to his jail term. He displayed aggression towards the nurses during the hearing, further demonstrating his concerning behavior.
