‘Vile’ ladette lashed out at her lifesavers
JAIL FOR NURSE ATTACKS
A LADETTE thumped and abused two casualty nurses and a policewoman as they tried to save her life.
Deborah Roberts, 45, described by a nurse as “vile”, was taken to hospital after a suspected drugs overdose.
But she swore at medics and spat at a nurse before punching her in the face.
When a second nurse went to help, Roberts hit her in the stomach causing “a great deal of pain”.
She was arrested but continued her “barrage of abuse” in custody and thumped police detention officer Sarah Heaps so hard she left her with concussion.
Roberts was jailed for 18 months at Stockport Magistrates’ Court after admitting three assaults and threatening behaviour.
Bench chairman Jane Ingram said the attacks were “prolonged” and “on public servants who were only trying to help you”.
Roberts, from Bollington, Cheshire, lashed out after being taken to Macclesfield Hospital with a suspected alcohol and medication overdose on August 8.
Lynne Rogers, prosecuting, said rather than thanking medics for saving her life she physically and verbally abused them.
She spat at and punched a nurse in the head as she tried to put a drip in her arm.
Roberts then grabbed a colleague by the stomach with both hands for five minutes, shouting: “I will rip your head off.”
In a victim impact statement Ms Heaps said: “It was a massive blow to the back of the head. It could have only been caused by a closed fist. It caused immediate pain. I suffered from headaches and my vision was affected.”
One of the nurses Roberts attacked said: “I was just trying to help her. I come to work to help people, not be assaulted.
“I have never met such a vile lady. It happened when we were very busy with lots of very ill people around.”
Roberts, who admitted that her behaviour was “appalling”, told JPs: “I feel terrible. I should have been respectful of nursing staff.”