A Moray woman bit a student nurse in the face just seconds after thanking her for her care.
Gloria Paterson was taken to Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin amid fears she was suffering from hypothermia last July.
The 59-year-old, who had been drinking, had initially expressed her gratitude to accident and emergency staff for their assistance by kissing them.
But Paterson then grabbed a student nurse by the arm and sunk her teeth into her cheek.
Paterson admitted the assault when she appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court yesterday.
Fiscal depute Kevin Corrins said: “Though she was extremely intoxicated when she arrived, Paterson did come under control when she was taken to a treatment room at the hospital.
“She pulled one of the nurses towards her and gave her a kiss on the neck, then grabbed another nurse and kissed her on the cheek.
“She then pulled a student nurse towards her and bit her on the cheek.”
The court heard that Paterson left dental indentations in the nurse’s face, but did not break the skin.
Her defence agent Stephen Carty said: “My client’s behaviour was somewhat bizarre.
“She was perhaps overly friendly towards some members of staff, and then for some unknown reason has committed this assault.
“I can’t proffer any explanation as to why she took the course of action that she did.”
Paterson, of 80 Springfield Road in Elgin, was taken to the hospital at 5pm on Thursday, July 31 last year.
Sheriff Peter Grant-Hutchison put her on a year-long community payback order, during which she must address her alcohol problems.
He told her: “What you did was extremely serious, and hospital workers need to be protected.
“If you do not address your alcohol problems and comply with community service it’s likely you will get a prison sentence.”
