A man who previously received a life sentence for throwing a six-year-old boy off a tenth-story balcony at the Tate Modern is now facing new charges for attacking two nurses at the high-security psychiatric facility where he is detained.
Jonty Bravery assaulted the nurses at Broadmoor Hospital, kicking one in the thigh and scratching the face of another, causing her to bleed in the September 2024 incident. He was found guilty of these assaults on nurses Linda McKinlay and Kate Mastalerz at a trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in November and is awaiting sentencing.
During the trial, it was revealed that Bravery requires constant supervision by three staff members around the clock and is housed in a room with just a mattress. His previous life sentence stemmed from the incident where he threw a young boy off the Tate Modern balcony, resulting in severe injuries including a brain bleed and multiple fractures.
Witnesses described how Bravery attempted self-harm by climbing a ledge after asking to use the bathroom, prompting the nurses to intervene and restrain him. Body-worn camera footage presented in court depicted the struggle between the nurses and Bravery before additional staff members intervened.
The nurses recounted the harrowing experience, with McKinlay stating it was her first attack in her long career at Broadmoor. She detailed Bravery’s aggressive behavior and the efforts made to prevent him from causing harm to himself. McKinlay suffered facial injuries and was hospitalized for treatment.
Another nurse, Mastalerz, emphasized the distressing nature of the situation as Bravery lashed out at them. The court found him guilty of the assaults, with Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring remarking that Bravery had crossed a line with his actions.
This is not the first time Bravery has been involved in violent incidents at Broadmoor Hospital, as he previously served a 14-week jail term for attacking staff members in 2020. He exhibited aggressive behavior by assaulting nursing assistant Sarah Edwards and biting rehabilitation therapist assistant Maxwell King.