A PATIENT at Foss Park Hospital has been prosecuted after racially abusing one of its cleaners for weeks, York Crown Court heard.

Lisa Marie Adams, 35, was constantly “in his face” being very aggressive and threatening and the victim did his best to keep his distance from her, said Victoria Hajba-Ward, prosecuting.

On November 16, as well as shouting abuse at him, she pushed him while he was cleaning with his back to her.

“She used a lot of force, but he was able to stay on his feet,” said the prosecution barrister.

The CPS obtained a consultant psychiatrist’s report, saying that Adams had sufficient mental capacity to understand what she was doing and the consequences of what she was doing.

The cleaner’s personal statement said: “My statement is intended to protect NHS staff. I hope Lisa Adams realises her racism will be punished.”

Adams, 35, of Burn Caravan Site, Burn near Selby, pleaded guilty to racial abuse. She had no previous convictions.

The court heard she was an “informal” voluntary patient at the psychiatric hospital.

Recorder Anthony Hawks said she had bipolar affective disorder with manic episodes.

“It is a terrible burden for you and one likely to be with you for the rest of your life,” he told Adams.

He said she had carried out the racist acts on someone working in the caring industry.

“Your behaviour was highly influenced by your serious mental condition which was being treated in hospital at the time,” he told her.

He gave her an 18-month conditional discharge.

He also warned her that the next time she was in hospital she should do her best to behave properly towards staff members and not make their work harder than it already was.

Defence barrister Eddison Flint said the case would have been heard at a magistrates court, but the lower court couldn’t hear cases that that involved the possibility that a defendant was unfit to plea.