A nurse at the West Cumberland Hospital said she felt "violated" after being spat at by a drunken patient.

Lynn Ivison was trying to assist Kim McCourt, who was being "disruptive and aggressive" in the A&E department on June 30.

During the incident, McCourt, 31, spat at the nurse.

It did not hit her but the nurse said in a statement she felt violated by the episode.
She added: "I am saddened that this type of unacceptable incident is common."

The police were called and the court heard that McCourt then began to spit and kick out at the officers.

As they tried to put her into a police van, she kicked and banged her head against it.

Appearing before district judge Gerald Chalk in Workington, McCourt, of Hunday Court, Workington, admitted one common assault and two counts of resisting arrest.

In sentencing her to 40 hours of unpaid work, the judge told McCourt her behaviour had been "a disgusting piece of action".

John Cooper, solicitor for McCourt, told the court his client has no recollection of how she got to hospital.

He added: "She has suffered with some mental health issues over the last 12 months and has taken to drink."

McCourt was ordered to pay £85 compensation and £75 costs.