A woman assaulted a Queen's Medical Centre nurse and racially abused her own care worker, a court has heard. The woman had become 'agitated' during a visit to hospital when she lashed out.
Sally Pinney, 56, of Carlton Hill, was taken to the QMC in Nottingham "for treatment for mental health". During a hearing at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Thursday, March 31, the prosecution said she had punched a nurse "numerous times".
The nurse, Sophie Smith, was subject to abuse alongside Pinney's care worker, Nadine Francis, who had attended the hospital visit with her. The court heard the incident happened on the evening of March 6 and continued into the morning on March 7.
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"At 7pm the defendant became agitated and shouted 'you black so and so, you foreigner, you should not be in this country'," the prosecution said. "At 3am on March 7 she made the second reference to Nadine and shouted 'you are a black b******'."
Nurses attempted to calm Pinney down and it was during the restraint Ms Smith was punched in the arm numerous times, which "caused her real harm". Prosecution called for 26 weeks custody, compensation to the care worker and nurse and a high level community order.
Pinney has a history of assaulting emergency workers. She entered guilty pleas for the offences.
Her defence argued she has a "long history of mental health issues" and has spent time in secure units in the past. These had "not been of any benefit" to Pinney.
She had been living in a flat in Carlton Hill, which provided her with 24-hour assistance, and the court heard the accommodation provider had served her a notice of eviction following the incident. It was argued the case should be adjourned until some "stability" had been achieved.
"While she accepts these offences she was in crisis," her defence said. The case was adjourned until May 20 pending a full report from her probation. Her unconditional bail was extended until 3pm on May 20.
