Nurse tells court of assault by AM Mick Bates

Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates grabbed the arm of a nurse and refused to let go as she attempted to treat him in hospital, a court was told.

Clare Morris, a staff nurse at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, told Cardiff magistrates she broke away and security intervened.

Bates, 63, of Llanfair Caereinion, near Welshpool, denies three charges of common assault and three public order offences.

On the second day of Bates's trial yesterday, Miss Morris told the court Bates had been aggressive, abusive and intoxicated while she tried to treat him for a head injury at the hospital in the early hours of January 20.

The court heard how, after being transferred from a wheelchair and onto a trolley bed, Bates refused treatment from Miss Morris.

On several occasions Bates also attempted to get out of his bed and had to be calmed down by his colleague, Craig Williams, who had followed him to the hospital, and members of staff.

Security guards were called and, as a result, Bates appeared to calm down - this prompted Miss Morris to attempt to treat him again, the court was told.

"As I was treating him he grabbed me around my right forearm, his grip was very strong," she told the court.

Miss Morris told the court that she told Bates his behaviour was classed as assault and asked him to let go on several occasions.

"He didn't let go and I had to use a breakaway technique which is something we are taught when we do domestic violence training within the trust," she said.

Miss Morris said she managed to break away before security arrived but was left shaken and shocked.

Adam Warren, a hospital health care worker also told the court how Bates took the scissors out of the left breast pocket of his uniform.

He said Bates held the scissors by the handle about six inches from his face before he retrieved them and put them back in his pocket.

The trial was adjourned until November 4.

By Anwen Evans at Cardiff Magistrates Court