A nurse shared her frightening experience of being assaulted by a mentally ill patient at Broadmoor hospital. Linda McKinlay was left with blood on her face after the patient, Jonty Bravery, attacked her while she was trying to prevent him from harming himself. Bravery was sentenced to 16 weeks in jail for the assault on Linda and her colleague Kate Mastalerz.
During the trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, footage revealed the nurses struggling with Bravery before other staff intervened. Linda, a grandmother, described the attack as the first in her long career at Broadmoor. She detailed how Bravery clawed at her face, causing scratches and bruises.
Following the incident, Linda received medical treatment, while Kate suffered from scratches and kicks. The Crown Prosecution Service emphasized the severity of the assault, stating that caregivers should not face such aggression. Despite Bravery’s absence at the trial, the evidence presented led to his conviction.
Bravery, already serving a life sentence for throwing a child off the Tate Modern balcony, faces additional time for his latest offenses. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring highlighted Bravery’s ongoing mental health challenges during sentencing. The judge underscored the likelihood of Bravery remaining in custody beyond the 15-year minimum term due to safety concerns.
Bravery’s history of violence at Broadmoor includes a separate incident in 2020 where he attacked hospital staff. His pattern of aggression towards caregivers underscores the need for stringent measures to ensure the safety of healthcare workers in such environments.