A PSYCHIATRIC hospital patient whose attack left a nurse off work for weeks has been ordered to pay her compensation.

Steve Ovenden, prosecuting, told York magistrates that Heather Louise Briddon punched nurse Irene Matereke in the face and kicked her until other staff intervened.

Ms Matereke suffered facial injuries and headaches and did not return to work at Stockton Hall Hospital, near York, for more than a month.

Briddon had previously appeared before Bury magistrates for three offences of causing actual bodily harm at a psychiatric hospital in Lancashire.

Briddon, 22, pleaded guilty to asssaulting the nurse on October 20 and, in a separate incident, assaulting another patient.

Stewart Page, for Briddon, said because she was detained under the Mental Health Act the only punishments magistrates could impose were a financial one or a conditional discharge. Magistrates ordered her to pay £150 compensation to the nurse and £100 to the patient as her punishment.

Mr Ovenden said staff warned Briddon about her behaviour when she exposed herself to other patients on December 3.

Fellow patient Nicole Coleman told Briddon she could face consequences unless she behaved and was punched in the face.

Mr Page said Briddon had a history of violence, and the assaults occurred when she was not well.