A MENTAL health patient seriously injured his doctor because he was scared of being sectioned a court heard.Billy Waters attacked Dr William Mansfelt during a mental health assessment because he did not want to be sent to St Clements Hospital in Ipswich.
A MENTAL health patient seriously injured his doctor because he was scared of being sectioned a court heard.
Billy Waters attacked Dr William Mansfelt during a mental health assessment because he did not want to be sent to St Clements Hospital in Ipswich.
South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court heard that 28-year-old Waters punched Dr Mansfelt in the face splitting his lip. He fell back and struck his head. A cut on his head required stitches.
Waters, of Church Lane, Kirton pleaded guilty to unlawfully and maliciously wounding the doctor causing him grievous bodily harm on April 18 last year.
Naomi Turner, prosecuting, said: “Mr Waters was taken to St Clements Hospital where he was sectioned. He spent six months there. He said he was scared of being sectioned. He fully admitted the assault.”
She added: “There was an assessment by another doctor and the Mental Heath Service and they were concerned there was still a risk of violence. That assessment was on May 10 and at the time of the incident he was said to be highly psychotic.
District Judge David Cooper said he was “very concerned” that Waters would re-offend if he was released on bail.
However, he heard from Waters, and his mother and father, and decided that the risk was low as Waters lived with his mother and her two young children and she had no worries about him staying there.
Waters, who represented himself in court because he did not want to “waste taxpayers money” on legal representation, was committed to Ipswich Crown Court for sentencing on a date which was to be set.
The court heard that Waters was a Manchester University student who became ill several years ago after a history of taking illegal drugs. He told the court he was taking anti-psychotic medication but was not generally a violent person.
Waters, who is a “church-going Christian” said: “Doctor Mansfelt was the best doctor I had. I want to be punished for what I did as a mark of respect to him.”
Judge Cooper released Waters on bail with the condition that he does not enter pubs or clubs. A pre-sentence report was ordered.
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