Portsmouth army veteran pleads guilty to attacking Queen Alexandra Hospital workers

AN ARMY veteran kicked, bit and abused hospital staff while waiting for her medication, a court heard.
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Shannon-Leigh Williams, 25, from St Paul’s Road in Southsea, appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court where she was warned she faces jail.

She admitted two counts of using threatening or abusive language, and three counts of assault emergency workers by beating in a string of incidents at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham last January.

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Between January 12 and 13, 2020, Williams assaulted nurses and security staff at Queen Alexandra Hospital over a dispute with her medication.

Shannon-Leigh Williams, 24 from St Paul's Road, SouthseaShannon-Leigh Williams, 24 from St Paul's Road, Southsea
Shannon-Leigh Williams, 24 from St Paul's Road, Southsea
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Prosecuting, Liam Hunter said: ‘The incidents all flow together.

‘There were concerns that Williams would take all her prescription medication at once – the nurses explained what they needed to do and she became violent.

‘She was heard saying “give me my... tramadol”.

Shannon-Leigh Williams, 24 from SouthseaShannon-Leigh Williams, 24 from Southsea
Shannon-Leigh Williams, 24 from Southsea

‘Security was called, one guard was kicked and another was bitten.’

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Defending Williams, Howard Barrington-Clark said there was a long history of mental health issues, dating back to an injury she sustained while on active duty in Afghanistan.

He said: ‘There is an extensive mental health history – six years ago, while she was in the army, she sustained a serious head injury so there can be no doubt as to the mental health issues.

‘I don’t want to go ahead with indecent haste on this case.’

Williams will be sentenced at the same court on April 15.

Addressing the defendant, district judge David Robinson said: ‘You have pleaded guilty today to five very serious offences. These are offences which inevitably cross the custody threshold.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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