A MAN who had been taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital after a suicide attempt spat at a nurse who was treating him.

Blackburn magistrates heard Graham Hawley called the nurse a "white b****" and when a police officer intervened he was kicked in the face.

Hawley, 44, of Albion Street, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting an emergency worker and racially aggravated threatening behaviour.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 200 hours unpaid work and 10 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement. He was ordered to pay £100 compensation to the nurse and the police officer, £85 costs and £95 victim surcharge.

Alex Mann, prosecuting, said the ambulance and police had brought Hawley to hospital where he was being treated by a nurse.

He was calm at first but then threw himself on the floor and when the nurse and a colleague tried to get him up he became aggressive.

"He called her a white b**** and was swearing and as he did spat in her direction," said Mrs Mann.

"The police returned and as he was sitting on the bed the defendant lashed out with his foot, catching the officer on the chin.

"The officer describes his behaviour as utterly disgraceful, especially as everyone was trying to help him."

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client was extremely remorseful. On the day of the incident he had tried to take his own life by taking tramadol and paracetamol tablets.

"He has a recollection of lying on the bed after he had done that," said Mr Taylor.

"A survival instinct kicked in and he contacted the ambulance.

"The next thing he remembers is waking up in a police cell. Everything else is a complete blank."