A CALDERSTONES patient who warned staff that he was a danger to females has been jailed for indecently assaulting a nurse.

Paul Andrew Taylor was on the hospital's medium secure unit where he had been moved following conviction for a similar offence in December.

Blackburn magistrates heard that the latest medical assessment of Taylor described him as "too dangerous for Calderstones" and revealed that the machinery for transferring him to a maximum secure unit had been put in place.

But Michael Singleton, defending, said that in the meantime his client was being held in a 'prison environment' and said it was not surprising that the residents of Whalley had expressed their considerable concerns.

"I would urge you to impose an immediate custodial sentence today in the hope that it will short-circuit the process and lead to my client being transferred to Ashworth or Rampton high security units without dalay," said Mr Singleton.

"Paul Taylor recognises that he is dangerous and while this particular incident is not the most serious of its kind, the next one might be."

Taylor, 37, pleaded guilty to assault and indecent assault committed at the hospital on June 10.

He was sentenced to four months in prison and put on the sex offenders' register for seven years.

Neil White, prosecuting, said Taylor had been a resident at Calderstones for about five years and in December was convicted of indecent assault on a female member of staff.

On June 10 a female member of staff was in the lounge of the medium secure unit when Taylor entered the room.

She said he had a strange look in his eye and she had a 'gut feeling' that he was going to attack her.

Before the woman had chance to get away Taylor grabbed her T-shirt and pulled it down, exposing her bra.

The woman shouted and turned away, trying to cover herself, and at that stage felt two blows to the back of her head.

Mr Singleton said: "My client has told the staff on previous occasions that he represents a significant risk that will result in attacks, unless the hospital take steps to safeguard female members of staff.

"These are not threats that he was making but a statement of fact."

Mr Singleton said that on his return to Calderstones after the December court case, Taylor was placed in the medium secure unit, which is known as a flat.

"There are large signs that say that under no circumstances should any female go into that flat," said Mr Singleton.

"For some reason, these were not apparent to the lady in this case.

"It is not my client's fault that she went into the flat where she should not have been.

"He said that he is largely unable to deal with his own sexual urges," said Mr Singleton.

A spokesman for the hospital said they were reviewing what was said in court before making any comment and nobody from UNISON was available to speak.