A Lister Hospital patient who attacked a psychiatrist with a hammer has been found to have committed the act of GBH.

Christopher Battison, of Rundells in Letchworth, assaulted the consultant doctor – who suffered minor injuries – at the hospital in Stevenage’s Coreys Mill Lane on December 30 last year.

The 40-year-old was arrested the same day. After subsequent court hearings, he was deemed mentally unfit to plead.

Judge Jonathan Cooper presided at Cambridge Crown Court on Monday as Battison was found to have committed the act of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.

Dr Jane Padmore from the Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust told the Comet afterwards: “We take the safety and wellbeing of our staff extremely seriously.

“They deserve courtesy and respect and the freedom to work without fear of intimidation, abuse or violence.

“I am glad to say that the consultant has made a full recovery and is now back at work. All staff who were involved in this incident received our full support.”

Battison has been remanded to hospital, and is set to be sentenced during the week beginning August 29.