A violent thug has been jailed for punching a doctor in the face as he was treating coronavirus patients in hospital.
Gareth Rudge attacked the medic at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, south Wales, where up to half of the staff have contracted Covid-19.
The 34-year-old was overpowered by security staff and detained until police arrived to arrest him.
Cardiff Magistrates heard the doctor courageously went on to finish his shift.
Rudge, of no fixed address, was jailed for six months after admitting assault an emergency worker.
The attack happened at 12.50am on Good Friday at the 775-bed hospital which has been at the forefront of the fight against the pandemic in Wales.
PC Sam Louro said: "The doctor is working in the middle of a pandemic, helping those in our society who desperately need medical assistance.
"He was assaulted while carrying out his public duty and continued his shift after the incident, caring for those who require it.
"Assaults on emergency service workers should never be tolerated.
"Emergency service personnel come to work to protect and help those in need - not to be assaulted.
"This sentence shows that incidents such as this are totally unacceptable and there can be no excuse whatsoever for assaulting emergency workers."
The doctor was working for the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board which has reported the highest coronavirus infection rate outside London.
