A PATIENT at a Blackburn psychiatric hospital assaulted a member of staff when she told him not to be abusive to a doctor.

East Lancashire magistrates heard Lewis Holden threw a plate at the member of staff like a frisbee, followed by a jug and then a chair.

As she was leaving to go to the hospital Holden burst through doors and kneed her to the head as she crouched down trying to protect herself.

Holden, 21, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to assaulting Catherine Dewhurst causing her actual bodily harm.

He was sent in custody to Preston Crown Court to be sentenced on April 21 after District Judge Joanne Hirst ruled her powers of punishment were not sufficient.

Peter Bardsley, prosecuting, said the incident happened at the Cygnet Fountains psychiatric unit on Pleasington Close, Blackburn.

Holden was a resident at the unit but was due to be released into the community until the coronavirus put that on hold.

"Staff say he has become increasingly frustrated, culminating in this incident," said Mr Bardsley.

Miss Dewhurst suffered an injury to her arm during the first incident.

She heading out of the unit to go to hospital when she saw Holden walking towards some doors which he kicked open. He headed straight towards Miss Dewhurst who crouched down trying to protect herself.

"He kneed her to the side of her head and then picked up a plant pot and threw it at her hitting her on the back of her neck," said Mr Bardsley. "She was terrified and screaming for help. A colleague managed to get him back into the centre."

Mr Bardsley said the attack had left Miss Dewhurst fearful of returning to work.

"She said she had never been treated like that by any other patient in the 11 years she has worked there," he added.

Sending the matter to the Crown Court for sentence Judge Hirst said her powers were insufficient.

"This was a terrifying and sustained attack on a member of the medical staff who was there to help you," she said.