Tate Modern attacker given extra jail term for assaulting hospital staff

  • 12/22/2020
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A teenager who threw a six-year-old boy from the viewing platform of the Tate Modern has been jailed for another 14 weeks after admitting attacking Broadmoor hospital staff. Jonty Bravery, 19, punched a nursing assistant, Sarah Edwards, in the head and face before pulling her hair, after she said she was going to clean his room. He then bit Maxwell King, a rehabilitation therapist assistant, on his finger after he came to his colleague’s aid. Bravery was being held at the high-security psychiatric hospital on remand before sentencing at the Old Bailey, where he pleaded guilty to attempted murder over the attack at the London art gallery. He received a life sentence with a minimum 15-year term in June for hurling the boy from Tate Modern’s 10th-storey balcony on 4 August last year. The victim, who was on holiday with his parents from France, survived the 30-metre (100ft) fall but sustained life-changing injuries, including a bleed on the brain and multiple broken bones. On Tuesday, Bravery appeared at Westminster magistrates court by video link from Belmarsh prison, where he is serving his sentence. He spoke to confirm his name and date of birth before pleading guilty to two counts of common assault at Broadmoor on 29 January. The chief magistrate, Emma Arbuthnot, sentenced him to another 14 weeks in prison and told him he must pay his victims £200 compensation. The prosecutor, Michael Mallon, described Bravery as “somewhat notorious”, telling the court he was taken out of his room at Broadmoor on 29 January for some fresh air, when Edwards went in to get him a jumper. “She made a passing comment that she was going to give his room a quick clean because of the smell emanating,” he said. The court heard that Bravery shouted: “No, no, no,” before becoming verbally abusive and launching the attack. “He lunged forwards, grabbed her from behind with his left hand and started punching with his right hand around her face and head, around four or five times. She screamed in pain and fear,” said Mallon. The court heard that Bravery tried to kick the woman and was heard shouting that he wanted to hurt her before other colleagues arrived to help. Andrew Bousfield, defending, said Bravery had been diagnosed with autism and a personality disorder and the offences were linked to his mental disorder. “Mr Bravery wants to apologise for his attack. He has pleaded guilty because he is acutely aware of the effect this has had on his family,” he said. Earlier this month, Bravery dropped a court of appeal attempt to be moved from prison to hospital, while his appeal against the length of his 15-year sentence was dismissed.

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