Jason Ford (Image: South Wales Police)
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A 37-year-old man who groped a nurse at a hospital while heavily intoxicated has been sentenced to 57 weeks in prison after a judge condemned his actions.
Jason Ford, of Fairfield Avenue, Maesteg, appeared at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Thursday where he was sentenced for a series of offences committed on January 31.
He had previously entered guilty pleas to sexual assault, racially and religiously aggravated harassment, battery, and two counts of common assault.
The hospital assault
Ford had been taken to hospital on a stretcher due to his condition after emergency services were called to the King Alfred pub in Maesteg. Despite being brought in for treatment, he continued behaving erratically and making gestures towards women while clearly under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
A nurse who had just completed her shift was grabbed by Ford when he asked for help. He then seized her right breast with force, leaving her in significant pain. The victim told him to get off her and later said the assault left her feeling “dirty”.
Ford went on to try hugging other female nurses on the ward. When hospital security staff intervened, he picked up a fire extinguisher and brandished it at a nurse, who feared he was going to throw it at her.
He told a security officer: “F*** you, I will f*** you up, I will smash you up.”
Ford then barricaded himself inside a disabled toilet and refused to come out. When he eventually emerged, he gestured towards the security guard as though he intended to bite him.
Racial abuse of officer
Staff managed to remove Ford from the building and he was restrained by police and taken to the ground. After being placed in a police vehicle, he kicked an officer to the left thigh.
He was later allowed back inside the hospital for a CT scan, but launched a torrent of racist abuse at a police officer, calling him a “black n*****”, a “n** n**”, a “black c***” and a “P*** c***”.
Ford also called the officer a “paedophile” and accused him of being a Muslim who “raped little kids”.
He told the officer: “If I see you on the street mate, I’ll kill you, I will stamp on your head.”
Pub incident
The chain of events had begun earlier that day when Ford entered the King Alfred pub carrying a bottle of vodka. He told a woman inside that he was a “dangerous man” and was in a “gang”, before rubbing her back uninvited, pushing her right shoulder, and attempting to wrap his hand around her and lean in for a kiss.
Prosecutor Ruth Smith told the court Ford was ushered out of the pub and the emergency services were contacted.
Defence and sentencing
When later interviewed by police, Ford claimed to be an alcoholic and said he could not remember anything about what had happened. The court heard he has numerous previous convictions for assaulting police officers.
Defence barrister Alex Granville told the court his client’s offending was driven by alcohol. He said Ford has a supportive partner and three children, along with extensive mental health difficulties including diagnoses of emotionally unstable personality disorder, schizophrenia, and visual and auditory hallucinations.
Passing sentence, Judge Celia Hughes said: “I totally abhor the behaviour and beliefs you demonstrated… You appear to blame anyone doing a worthwhile job rather than yourself for your situation in life.”
In addition to the 57-week prison term, Ford was made subject to a restraining order and sex offender notification requirements for seven years.
