A NURSING sister was headbuted by a patient and left with a blooded nose, a court was told.

Lionel Hawke, of Every Street, Nelson, attacked Patricia Whalley at the Royal Blackburn Hospital after behaving in an odd and agitated state, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Hawke, 22, who had earlier attacked police officers, was said to be mentally ill and a judge said she needed him assessed before she passed sentence.

But the hearing was told the mental health team would not give information on Hawke's state to the Probation Service because of confidentiality.

Judge Beverley Lunt, who described the case as "extremely troubling" warned if they did not, she would witness summonse them to appear before her.

The court was told the defendant, said to be suffering paranoid psychosis and epilepsy, had been seen and discharged without further appointment by the community mental health team.

Richard Taylor, defending, said Hawke had significant mental health problems. He said Hawke's condition was described by a psychiatrist as manageable on medication - but nobody had put him on any despite repeated efforts to get them to do so.

The solicitor said: "The question arises time and time again in the pre-sentence report if he had received the treatment would he have committed these offences?"

Hawke had admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, four counts of police assault, two allegations of resisting police, damage and harassment and had been committed for sentence by magistrates.

Judge Lunt said she needed the defendant assessed to see if he was suffering a psychotic illness and how it could best be managed.

The judge said she was considering jail as she had to protect nurisng staff and the police.

Hawke was bailed until June 23 so he can see an epilepsy specialist in May.

Silvia Dacre, prosecuting, told the court police were in Nelson town centre when Hawke was being abusive and loud.

He was arrested, lost control and kicked out at a police officer, hitting him in the knees. He then assaulted a second officer and sank his teeth into another officer's thumb, causing it to bleed and swell.

After the hospital incident, Hawke bent an officer's finger backwards, causing soreness. He was put in a holding cell and and headbutted the walls, cutting himself and smearing them with blood.

When Hawke was questioned, he apologised for having injured anybidy.