A slightly-built anorexic woman’s behaviour in the emergency department at Royal Cornwall Hospital left security staff, nurses and patients frightened, after she “flew”out, clawing with her nails, biting and kicking, Truro magistrates have heard.

A senior nurse told the police the scene was chaotic and she had never seen anyone reacting in such a violent manner when asked to keep the noise down.

Before the court was Donna Marie Mohammed, 28, of Pondhu Road, St Austell, who had to be taken to the ground, put in leg restraints and eventually dragged out of the hospital by her ankles before things returned to normal.

She pleaded guilty to assaulting trainee assistant practitioner Steven Harries, security officer and former policeman David Bowden and breaching a conditional discharge made in August for another assault offence.

Gaily Hawkley, for the CPS, read statements made by injured parties and nursing staff.

The court heard Mohammed had gone to the hospital on the night of July 28 with a female friend who was in a wheelchair, and both had complained about the time taken to see to them.

Kim Emmett, a sister, called security staff when the two began shouting and screaming violent abuse at everyone. She asked them to leave because they had been dealt with by then, but they continued with their unruly behaviour.

Despite being slightly built Mohammed “from nowhere flew” at one of the guards and ended up fighting with two of them.

“Although the guards are large men and this woman quite slim, the guards had terrible trouble restraining her as she was going for them and had scratched one on the face,” she said.

Things were chaotic, and with the noise there staff arrived from other departments to help out.

She said Mohammed had been kicking out and trying to bite whoever she could. The two women’s behaviour had a lasting impact on the operational running of the ward as everything ground to a halt. Staff and patients, including children, were upset and feared for their safety.

Staff nurse Charlotte Taylor told police she saw Mohammed lash out with arms and legs “in a demonic manner” at Mr Bowden.

Mr Harris, in his statement, said he had just returned to work after 12 weeks off following a major operation. Mohammed bit him and then kneed him in the stomach, the site of his operational wound, which necessitated a later re-examination.

Mr Bowden told the police the women’s language had been appalling, with more than 20 patients including children and pensioners within yards of them. Mohammed bit him and clawed twice at his face with her nails.

“We had to drag her out by her ankles and she continued to try and bite people and kick out”, he said.

Ms Hawkley said both men had to have tetanus injections because of their injuries from Mohammed.

Defendant, who had previous convictions, was convicted last year of assault on a female.

The court heard she suffered from anorexia, depression, bi polar disease, excessive use of drugs and alcohol and had mental health issues.

Her solicitor Polly Morley said she was extremely ashamed and remorseful for her behaviour and could not excuse it.

Adding that she had been previously assaulted, and the subject of hate campaigns, and racial comment because of her mixed race.

At the hospital she and her friend had got wound up and her post traumatic stress levels had kicked in when security staff came at her.

Mohammed was sent to prison for 22 weeks and given a restraining order prohibiting her from visiting the Royal Cornwall Hospital except for her own medical emergency treatment.