A woman who battered a fellow patient with a crutch in a hospital TV room has been spared jail.
Brenda Black, 48, claimed her victim had been "egging her on".
Falkirk Sheriff Court heard that Black and her target, Jean Whyte, were both patients in a psychiatric ward at Forth Valley Royal Hospital when the incident occurred on October 15th (2020).
Prosecutor Xander Van Der Scheer told the court on Thursday [July 8th] : "About twelve o'clock at night Ms Whyte was in the TV room when she was struck from behind with a walking crutch.
"She fell to the floor and could feel blood pouring down her face."
Medical staff closed a two inch by one inch head wound with steri-strips and surgical glue, and told Ms Whyte she had been struck on the head by Black.
Black, of Beauly Court, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, pleaded guilty to assault to injury.
Solicitor Virgil Crawford, defending, said: "The accused and the complainer were both patients on the secure psychiatric ward.
"It's fair to say there was some friction between them.
"Miss Black told the police the complainer had been egging her on."
Mr Crawford said that despite the fact the incident took place in a secure ward, it was accepted that Black had criminal responsibility.
Sheriff Simon Collins QC placed Black under social work supervision for two years.
She was also ordered to attend a community addiction service.
