Boy attacks nurses as they try to treat him (From Warrington Guardian)

Boy attacks nurses as they try to treat him

A TEENAGER subjected to an anti-social behaviour order passed out because he was drunk - then assaulted hospital nurses who tried to aid his recovery.

Only five days earlier a senior judge had given Mark Probin, 18, one last chance to mend his ways, Chester Crown Court heard last Tuesday.

Probin, of Grange Road, Northwich, admitted breaching his ASBO, given to him on May 18 last year, and assaulting the nurses.

Sending him to a young offenders' institution for 16 months, the judge described Probin's behaviour as 'disgraceful'.

The court heard having breached his ASBO twice, he appeared before Judge Elgan Edwards on January 4 for breaching his community order and was given his last chance.

Five days later he was playing football with his friends but drank so much alcohol that he collapsed into unconsciousness.

His friends fled and he was taken by ambulance to Leighton Hospital where he was tended to by nurse Margaret McAndrew.

While Probin was lying on a trolley bed in the accident and emergency department, the nurse tried to make him comfortable but the defendant wet himself.

Miss McAndrew tried to manoeuvre him to a dry portion of the bed but he responded by hitting her on the forearm and she alerted police.

Fellow nurse Matthew Harrison tried to apply a gauze and plaster to the defendant's arm but Probin tried to bite his forearm, causing bruising.

Police attended the hospital and Probin started to hurl threats and abuse at them. He was eventually handcuffed and led to a waiting police car.

Once inside he started banging his head on the car's window, again making threats towards the officers.

Diane Chinn, Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust's security management specialist, said: "Attacks on NHS staff in any form are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

"Cases like this reinforce that message

"While we recognise some patients may be anxious about coming into hospital, that does not excuse violent behaviour.

"Everyone has a right to go about their work free from the fear of being threatened or attacked."