Violent patient pulled clumps of hair out of and punched Newcastle medical centre worker
Julie Cook was angry at the 'way she'd been spoken to on the phone' - so marched down to Denton Turret Medical Centre, in Denton Burn, and assaulted two members of staff
by Sara Nichol · ChronicleLiveA violent patient pulled clumps of hair out of a medical centre worker while also punching her in the face.
Julie Cook flew into a rage about the "way she'd been spoken to on the phone", so marched down to Denton Turret Medical Centre, in Denton Burn, Newcastle, to confront staff. The 52-year-old shouted and screamed at the shocked receptionist, before throwing her phone at her, a court heard.
When another worker tried to intervene and calm her down, Cook then turned even more violent, grabbing the victim by the hair, pulling out clumps of it, and punching her in the face, prosecutors said. The whole appalling incident was captured on CCTV and Cook was eventually forced out of the building when police arrived.
The lout, of Keswick Grove, in Slatyford, Newcastle, has now been given a 18-month community order after she pleaded guilty to assault occasion actual bodily harm and common assault at Newcastle Magistrates' Court. Sentencing her, District Judge Paul Currer said: "This was the most appalling set of circumstances and your behaviour was completely and utterly unjustified.
"However, you have pleaded guilty but you have expressed virtually no remorse for what you have done and don't accept any wrong and think the way you behaved was justified. The staff at that surgery provide services to everyone and shouldn't be exposed to that violence and abuse.
"You could have no complaint if I sent you to prison today."
The court heard that Cook marched down to the medical centre on August 19, just as they were closing at 6pm. Prosecutor, Paul Anderson, said staff allowed her in but she immediately started "shouting and screaming" at the receptionist and threw her phone at her, but missed.
Cook's attention then turned to another worker, who intervened. Mr Anderson said: "She grabbed the lady by the hair, pulling the left side of her head. She wrapped the hair around her hand and pulled it hard enough to get a clump out.
"While pulling her hair with her left hand, she's punching the complainant in her face with her right hand. Most punches missed but the ones that did hit were with enough force to knock the lady's glasses off."
Gregg Stephens, defending, said Cook suffered from mental health issues and only had one past conviction. He added: "A mental disorder was linked to this offence. Her mental health contributed to the way she behaved."
Cook was also ordered to pay the victim £400 compensation.
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