A MAN has been jailed for two months for assaulting a nurse who was trying to help him.

John Reintoul, of no fixed address, admitted assaulting Melanie Anderson at Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

He also admitted being drunk and disorderly at the hospital on another occasion.

Jane Brady, prosecuting, told Sedgefield magistrates that the nurse, who knew Reintoul from previous visits, was trying to help him when he became abusive.

"Without any provocation he struck her on the arm with his arm. She has a ganglion on her arm which caused her immediate pain," she said.

On the second occasion, in the early hours of September 12, police were called to the hospital when Reintoul, who was drunk, became involved in a heated discussion.

He was escorted from the building, but refused to leave the ambulance area and was arrested.

Reintoul, a regular visitor to the hospital since having his spleen removed, said he could not remember either incident.

Sentencing him, chairwoman of the bench Sue Snowdon said: "Common assault on a ward sister is very very serious. It was carried out without provocation on hospital premises.

"She was someone who was serving the public and trying to assist you, and there are no excuses for this level of behaviour."