Norfolk hospital worker needed nose realignment after attack

The staff member was knocked unconscious in the attack which happened as he was working at the Little Plumstead Hospital and "cannot remember anything" before the incident.

Little Plumstead Hospital sign (Image: Newsquest)Norwich Magistrates Court heard David Beresford, 35, a patient at the hospital, was seen punching the victim twice in the face "causing him to fall against a wall" before ending up on the ground.

Rima Begum, prosecuting, said the victim had to go to hospital "to have his nose realigned" following the attack on June 26 last year.

The victim, who was born with a cleft lip and pallet, said the nose realignment has meant "his ability to breathe has become worse".

Beresford, of Little Plumstead Hospital, Hospital Road, Norwich, appeared at court on Tuesday when he pleaded guilty to assault by actual bodily harm.

The court heard a statement from the victim who said he was unable to work for more than five weeks following the attack and has been left "traumatised" by what happened.

Ryan Creek, mitigating, said Beresford was the subject of a "hospital order of a duration without limit" and so would be detained in hospital on that order "for quite some time".

He said Beresford suffers from a number of issues, including clinical anxiety and an emotionally unstable personality disorder for which he takes "numerous medications".

Mr Creek said Beresford was "very sensitive" to criticism which needs only be slight before it "manifests itself in an angry outburst towards the person he feels slighted by".

The solicitor said the victim had written up a "negative report" about Beresford and was punched twice by the defendant when he saw him before he then backed off.

Beresford was ordered to pay the victim £500 compensation.

There was no order for costs.