A HOSPITAL patient left brain damaged by a road accident assaulted a care worker who had accompanied him outside for a cigarette.

Tyrone Bridges was given a conditional discharge by a judge who cited ‘wholly exceptional’ circumstances.

A court was told that on the way back to his ward at Royal Blackburn Hospital, Bridges touched the woman intimately.

Bridges, 38, of Cross Street, Clitheroe, was due to face trial for alleged sexual assault.

But today he pleaded guilty to a charge of common assault.

The Crown Prosecution Service concluded that, in the circumstances, it was not in the public interest to pursue a sexual assault trial.

The judge had been given a neurologist’s report which concluded that it was not uncommon for people with acute brain injuries to behave in a ‘disinhibited and inappropriate’ manner.

Bridges was left in a coma for 10 days after his Yamaha bike collided with a Mercedes articulated lorry in Whalley Road, Padiham, near to its junction with Barrowford Road, last September.

The incident happened on October 10.

Jane Dagnall, prosecuting, said Bridges asked to go for a cigarette.

On the way back they had to go up some stairs and at the top of a second flight, he touched her, she said.

He made a comment to her about what he had done.

On getting back to the ward, the woman made a complaint which was then investigated by police.

Judge Jonathan Gibson gave the 38-year-old 12 months conditional discharge.

He said he had ‘nothing but sympathy’ for the victim, adding: “I want to make it perfectly clear that assaults on hospital staff cannot be tolerated.

"They often result in immediate custody.

“It seems to me your case is wholly exceptional.”

Bridges was discharged from hospital on October 18 and arrested two days later.

Joe Boyd, defending, said: “He made it absolutely clear to all nursing staff and professionals that he apologised, though he could not remember.”