A hospital patient assaulted a member of staff visiting him on his ward and said he had "wanted to send her home with a smile". Royston Watts was staying on a ward at Neath Port Talbot Hospital when he touched the bottom of a female member of staff.
The 74-year-old used his hand to make circular motions three times on the outside of clothes over her buttocks in April last year and the incident was reported to police who arrested Watts on his discharge from hospital on June 16.
Prosecutor Georgina Buckley told Swansea Crown Court his victim had "'never had any issues before" with patients. "In police interview he told officers he had started messing about as a bit of a joke and admitted touching her bottom. She did not stop him so he thought it was okay. He said he wanted to send her home with a smile."
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Mitigating, Andrew Evans said Watts was in very poor health and rarely leaves his home, relying on carers who came to attend to him. "His behaviour at the time of the offence was wholly unacceptable and unwarranted. It has become apparent to him that behaviour was unacceptable". Watts, of or Border Road in Sandfields, Port Talbot, admitted assault. The prosecution offered no evidence in respect of an allegation of sexual assault.
Sentencing, Judge Paul Thomas QC told Watts his victim was "doing her job helping you and others". The judge added: "It left her shaken and upset. She was only doing her job. She did not deserve to be treated in that way by anyone. However the prosecution have not proceeded with the sexual allegation, just the battery charge, and there are good reasons why they have not taken that action. In my view only a prison sentence can be justified. But on the other side of the coin you are 74 years old and have never been in trouble before. It is wholly out of character. In the pre-sentence report it is said when the matter was explained to you and the impact on this lady involved you have been ashamed and there is no realistic prospect of it happening in the future and you are in bad health." Watts was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge.
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