AN IT consultant from Davenham assaulted a nurse in A&E after an all-day drinking binge.

Craig Lomax then assaulted his wife by shoving her in the chest and swinging a punch at her face, though he missed, as she tried to stop him.  

The 43-year-old, of Sandringham Close, appeared at Warrington Magistrates Court for sentencing on Thursday, August 24, after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to two counts of assault, one involving an emergency worker.

Prosecuting, Leanne Gallagher told the court Lomax was admitted to Leighton Hospital in Crewe at around 8.40pm on Thursday, March 30, with a suspected head injury after having a seizure following an all-day drinking session.

Lomax later decided to discharge himself, but his wife and a male nurse tried to stop him.

Miss Gallagher then showed the court CCTV footage from a Leighton Hospital corridor, lasting around five minutes, which clearly show Lomax, who has no previous convictions, kicking the nurse to the body, then shoving his wife hard in the chest and swinging a punch at her face, without making contact. 

Lomax then ran off down another corridor, chased by the nurse, before more hospital staff rushed to help and were able to subdue him.

Defending, Gary Schooler told the court Lomax, who is a highly paid IT consultant, has an alcohol dependency so serious he suffers seizures, and recently had to have major back surgery following a drunken fall.   

“Mr Lomax had been drinking all day on March 30, and in the evening, he had a seizure," Mr Schooler said. 

“His wife was very concerned for his health and persuaded him to go to hospital, so called 999.

“He can’t remember the events of that evening, and this is the first time he’s seen the CCTV footage.

“The nature of the assault on his wife was some pushing, and a swing of the arm, which did not make contact.

“Mrs Lomax does not support this prosecution.”

He told the course Lomax was ‘extremely remorseful’ and had pleaded guilty to the offences at the first available opportunity.

He said Lomax had now abstained from alcohol for between six weeks and two months and that he was 'now committed to abstinence, and to the welfare of his family'.

Sentencing, Deputy District Judge Daniel Church said: “You clearly had too much to drink and were dependent on alcohol at the time of the offence.

“This is evident from the CCTV I have viewed.

“Your alcohol misuse has caused you misery, both physical and emotional, and also misery to others, including your wife, who is visibly distressed on the footage.

“You are very lucky she’s supporting you, as she was supporting you on March 30.

“Thankfully, your punch did not land, however the domestic nature of the incident, the involvement of an emergency worker, and the fact you were under the influence on hospital property makes it worse.

“I have taken into account no injuries were caused, and that there seems to be a good deal more stability in your life now than at the time of the event.”

Lomax was given a 12-month community order, including a minimum of 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and an order to wear an alcohol monitoring tag for 60 days.

He will also pay £100 compensation to the nurse, and a total of £334 in court costs.