A man who was previously sentenced to life imprisonment for throwing a six-year-old boy off a tenth-floor balcony at the Tate Modern is facing new charges for assaulting two nurses at the high-security psychiatric hospital where he is currently detained. Jonty Bravery attacked the nurses at Broadmoor Hospital, kicking one in the thigh and scratching the face of another, causing her to bleed in the incident that took place in September 2024.
Bravery, aged 24, was found guilty of the assault on nurses Linda McKinlay and Kate Mastalerz during a trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in November. He is set to be sentenced for these new charges on Thursday. The trial revealed that Bravery requires constant monitoring by three staff members around the clock and is confined to a room furnished only with a mattress.
The man had been handed a life sentence previously after he threw a young boy off the Tate Modern balcony in 2019, resulting in severe injuries including a brain bleed and multiple fractures for the child. Testimony in court recounted the recent incident where Bravery attempted self-harm by climbing a ledge after asking to use the bathroom, prompting the nurses to intervene and restrain him.
Body-worn camera footage displayed during the trial depicted the nurses struggling with Bravery on the floor before additional staff arrived to assist. One staff member was heard urgently calling for help during the chaotic scene.
One of the nurses, Ms. McKinlay, expressed that it was her first encounter with an attack during her tenure at Broadmoor, detailing how Bravery was agitated and aggressive during the ordeal. She described sustaining scratches to her face and eye, causing considerable distress. Ms. McKinlay required hospital treatment for her injuries.
Another nurse, Ms. Mastalerz, recounted her distress while being kicked and scratched by Bravery, resulting in a bruised thigh. She emphasized the high stress of the situation.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring, upon finding Bravery guilty of the assaults, remarked that he had crossed a line with his actions. This incident follows a previous offense in 2020 when Bravery was imprisoned for 14 weeks for attacking staff at Broadmoor Hospital.
Bravery’s history of violent behavior underscores the ongoing challenges faced by healthcare workers in high-security environments, necessitating increased vigilance and support for those providing care to individuals with complex needs.
