A Harrogate woman has admitted to assaulting a number of emergency workers at Harrogate District Hospital.

Vanessa Kershaw, of Harewood Road, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court charged with five offences today (March 7).

She pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage to property under £5,000 and four counts of assaulting an emergency worker by beating.

Kaye Barnard, prosecuting, told the court the defendant was discharged from A&E at around 3.45pm on January 25 this year.

The court heard Kershaw refused to leave the hospital, before she “wrapped a sheet around her neck”.

Ms Barnard said the 30-year-old defendant then kicked two named nurses in the stomach, but they did not suffer any injuries. 

Kershaw was then wheeled out of the hospital on a bed and started “stabbing her keys” into the mattress, which caused £451 worth of damage.

Ms Barnard told the court police were called to the scene and arrested Kershaw, who resisted and then kicked two named police officers. 

The defendant breached a conditional discharge imposed last October by committing the offences.

Andrew Tinning, defending, told the court Kershaw has “significant mental health issues”, which have led to hospital admissions.

The court heard she was “in crisis” at the hospital, and the nurses tried to intervene when she tied the sheet around her neck.

The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared. Kershaw will return to Harrogate Magistrates Court on April 11.