Hitting hospital staff earns jail
A MAN whose wife is recovering from being hit by a vehicle has been sentenced to a jail term for assaulting two hospital staff.
The man's wife was facing the possibility of having her foot amputated after it was run over when an elderly man crashed into at least two vehicles in Kawana Shoppingworld car park this month.
The mother-of-two has been recovering in the Royal Brisbane Hospital since, the Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard yesterday.
Her husband pleaded guilty yesterday to assaulting two staff members at Nambour General Hospital on October 4 last year when he went to collect his wife from the mental health ward.
He stormed in and told staff at the hospital that he was taking his wife.
When the first person tried to stop him the man swung a punch and then tried to run away.
A second person stood in his way but the man attacked him and bit his torso.
The court heard the man needed to provide extensive care for his wife and one of their sons, who has needed regular visits to the Royal Children's Hospital for operations on his eye.
Acting Magistrate Peter Hasted told the man "hospital employees are not punching bags".
Mr Hasted said the man had no criminal history but could not afford a fine and would not be able to complete community service.
Mr Hasted sentenced him to two months imprisonment, wholly suspended, which he said reflected the serious nature of attacking public officials.
