A hospital patient launched a brutal attack on a nurse as she went about her duties on the night shift.

Blackburn magistrates heard Hristin Angelov attacked the nurse as she was attending to a patient in the next bed.

Angelov got out of his bed and she was concerned he would pull his cannula out and told him to stay where he was.

He responded by grabbing her arm and twisted it behind her back. He then began punching her repeatedly to her back and the back of her head.

Jane Rappin, prosecuting, said the nurse couldn’t get to the emergency button but fortunately, a patient in the bed opposite pulled back his curtain and Angelov released his grip.

“She was able to activate the emergency button but he than started hitting her on the back of the head again,” said Miss Rappin.

“She was screaming  and shouting for help and he let go of her and started pacing up and down the ward.

“One of the other patients allowed her to hide behind her curtain and when she saw he had left the ward she locked the door.”

The nurse later said the incident had shocked and distressed her.

“I feel I should feel safe coming into work and this has left me scared,” she said.

Angelov, 39, of Fawcett Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker. He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 15 days’ rehabilitation activity requirement and 80 hours unpaid work. He was ordered to pay £400 compensation to the victim.

District Judge Alexandra Preston said the victim had been caring for patients in the hospital and one of them had been the defendant.

“Nurses provide a very important public service and they are entitled to do their job without being assaulted,” said District Judge Preston.

“It is clear you were suffering a mental health episode at the time. It is also clear you were genuinely horrified by what you had done.

“You had no clear memory of what you had done and no proper explanation for your behaviour. I accept this was an incident that was very much out of character.”

Aftab Bakhat, defending, said his client had no previous convictions.

“I say from the outset that it is accepted the nurse suffered a very distressing, frightening and traumatic experience which she should not face while carrying out her public duties,” said Mr Bakhat.

“There is a sincere apology advanced by the defendant.

“Thankfully, he is in a much better place now.”