Man jailed for racist assault on hospital worker

A man who racially abused and assaulted a hospital worker has been jailed for 16 weeks. Azar Choudary, 40, pleaded guilty at Warwick Magistrates' Court on Thursday to the racially aggravated assault of a staff member at George Eliot Hospital, Nuneaton. Warwickshire Police said they were called on 21 November to reports of a drunken Choudary causing a nuisance and refusing to leave.

"The force is committed to protecting emergency workers," said PC Muhammed Ali. "He was arrested, charged, and convicted within 48 hours of the offence occurring and I hope this shows that assaults on emergency workers will not be tolerated by police and the courts," Mr Ali added. Choudary, of no fixed abode, was arrested at the hospital after he was checked by a doctor and found medically fit.

He was restrained while officers waited for a van, the force said, and continued to abuse the member of staff and assault him again when police attempted to put him in the vehicle.

The hospital's chief operating officer, Robin Snead, said they would always seek prosecutions following attacks on staff.

"Our staff work incredibly hard to look after people who need our care and we have zero tolerance of them being abused, discriminated against or assaulted in any way," he added.