A mental health nurse at a psychiatric care unit was attacked by a patient with schizophrenia, leaving her with two scars. The incident occurred at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, where Alexander Horton, a 34-year-old patient admitted three days earlier, assaulted the nurse around 11:55 pm on October 30, 2024.
During her routine nightly checks, the nurse was approached by Horton, who then put her in a headlock and struck her face with a sharpened pen. The nurse felt the pen puncture her left eyebrow, resulting in blood on her face. The attack lasted about eight seconds until staff members intervened and the nurse was taken to the hospital for treatment.
The nurse suffered two lacerations to her left eyebrow and one on the side. A broken pen with a saturated tip was recovered post-incident. Horton, upon arrest, admitted missing his medication that day and feeling overwhelmed, leading to the attack. He expressed remorse for his actions, admitting to intentional strangulation and a wounding offense.
In court, the nurse described her fear of potential future attacks and the impact the incident had on her daily life. Horton, who had no prior criminal record, was sentenced to a hospital order under the Mental Health Act section 37 for his actions. The judge emphasized the profound effect of the attack on the nurse, highlighting her dedication to care for patients like Horton.