Nurse on probation

Press, 11 December 1976, Page 6

Nurse on probation

A former comprehensive nurse «t Templeton Hospital was sentenced to four months periodic I detention and put on probation for a year by Mr Justice Somers in the Supreme Court yesterday on charges of ill treating a mental patient, a girl aged 15, assaulting a mentally retarded boy by kicking him. and three other offences. The former nurse. Dean Andrew Francis Hamilton, aged 21, was also ordered to take psychiatric treatment under the direction of the probation officer

The three other offences on which Hamilton was appearing were two of theft as a servant of four sheets and a tea towel, and one of burglary in which a stereo sef and records were stolen. Mr K. N. Hampton, for Hamilton. said that it was unfortunate that the prisoner had taken up nursing because his temperament and character were quite unsuited to such a job. It was that unsuitability which played a major part in his appearance on these charges.

The girl involved in the ill treatment charge was a difficult patient who had created a disturbance in the day room. Hamilton had decided to put her in seclusion, but the block was in use. so he locked her for a brief period in the lavatory. When Hamilton opened the door the girl tried to make a bolt for the day room and he saw that she had soiled herself. He told her to wait in the labatorv until he got a female member of the staff to clean her up. He smacked her twice with his open hand on the buttocks to try to stop her from leaving. At the time he had a light ke> chain in his hands. When she attempted to leave again lie mt her a further three times on the buttocks. The chain was still <n his hand Hamilton had suffered from a high level of frustration that day, and had oyer reacted He now realised that he had used too much force. The charge of assault on the boy had been defended in the Magistrate’s Court. The Magistrate had accepted that Hamilton had kicked the boy in the

l. behind, but that it not a t brutal kick. -I While the police were inter- - view ing Hamilton at his home • I they saw the tour sheets and lithe tea towel which belonged 11 to the hospital. AU were well I used. ! The burglary had been com- ‘ jmitted while Hamilton wks on ! j remand, and he had bcei> , ha'. - lenged to do it by a group of ' companions. He bad broken ■ into the house of someone ha ■ j knew. ’ Hamiltons registration as a I comprehensive nurse nouid ba ;1 cancelled and he would have to . seek a new career. Mr Hampton said. J His Honour said that in four or five months Hamilton had ■ compiled a list of convictions. • It was clear that he was suf. fering from some disturbance. ; and a psychiatrist had said that he could be treated. Hamilton ■ now agreed that lie needed help, I The offences were out of charI acter and were committed oier |a short period, said his Honour.