Man gets jail for punching stranger, kicking TTSH nurse while drunk
A man clenching his fist. (File photo: iStock)
Davina Tham
27 Jul 2022 02:54PM(Updated: 27 Jul 2022 02:54PM)Bookmark
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SINGAPORE: A man was sentenced to seven weeks' jail on Wednesday (Jul 27) for punching a stranger on the street and kicking a nurse at Tan Tock Seng Hospital while drunk.
Adam William Fletcher, 40, pleaded guilty to two charges of voluntarily causing hurt in the incidents in June last year.
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Fletcher knocked out the "blameless" 57-year-old stranger with a single punch and kicked the nurse while she was giving him medical attention, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Zhi Hao.
The court heard that Fletcher and another man went to a bar on East Coast Road, where he drank about five pints of beer, on Jun 25, 2021.
Later that evening, both men went to an alley behind the bar where they got into an argument, during which Fletcher pushed his companion.
Their dispute was broken up by a passerby, and Fletcher walked away from the alley at about 10.30pm.
Around this time, Fletcher noticed the 57-year-old victim walking along East Coast Road. As the victim walked towards him, Fletcher suddenly swung out his left arm and punched his head.
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The man fell down immediately and lost consciousness, hitting the back of his head against the ground. He regained consciousness a few minutes later with the help of others passing by.
Fletcher fled from the scene, but the assault had been captured on video by a passerby. Police later found Fletcher behaving in a drunken and disorderly manner along Mountbatten Road.
He was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital at about 1am on Jun 26, 2021. Medical personnel assessed him to be intoxicated and combative. He had abrasions on both knees.
At about 5am, the second victim, a 40-year-old nurse, was on duty in the hospital's emergency department. She was holding onto Fletcher's leg so that the doctor could administer an intravenous drip to him.
Fletcher started reacting aggressively, struggling violently and kicking his legs in the direction of the attending nurses. He also spouted vulgarities, asking medical staff to "get your ... hands off me".
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During this struggle, he kicked the second victim once in her left upper chest and collarbone. She had to stop her work because of pain and immediately went to consult a doctor about her injuries.
VICTIM SUFFERED ANXIETY, POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS
The 57-year-old victim was taken to the hospital with bleeding and tenderness at his head. He felt disoriented and confused as a result of his head injury.He was diagnosed with a concussion and given three days' medical leave when he sought follow-up medical treatment the next day.
He subsequently experienced severe anxiety and low mood. He was assessed to have severe anxiety and post-traumatic stress from the assault, and required counselling.
He was later also found to have fractured his elbow in the assault. He incurred more than S$3,800 in medical fees, for which Fletcher made compensation.
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The nurse was diagnosed with a contusion at her chest and given three days of medical leave.
The prosecution sought eight weeks' jail, highlighting that the attacks were unprovoked. Fletcher was represented by lawyer Mr Sarindar Singh.
The punishment for voluntarily causing hurt is up to three years' jail, a fine of up to S$5,000 or both.
