Mentally-ill Chesterfield man punched a care worker because she wouldn't let him go on a supervised food shop

William Henry Pullen had recently moved onto a new care home in the town after violent incidents at establishments elsewhere in the country, one leading to a prison sentence, Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court was told on Wednesday, January 13.

The court heard that the 35-year-old, of Hazelwood House, Main Road, Heath, Chesterfield, assaulted the woman October 8 last year, because she wouldn’t let him go on the supported trip.

Prosecuting, Becky Allsop told the court: “He was unhappy that he was not allowed to go to Tesco to take part in a shop and cook exercise. That made him angry and he stormed out of the room.

“He also felt that he was being put on a diet, which made him even angrier. He then came towards her and punched her in the centre of her chest, causing immediate pain.

“He then lunged at her again and punched her to the chest a second time, pulled her hair and pulled her to the floor.

“She activated her personal panic alarm and managed to shut herself in the office, but it wouldn’t lock and the defendant tried to get in.

Pullen, who is sectioned under the Mental Health Act, admitted assault by beating when he appeared before the court.

Mitigating, Karl Meakin, said Pullen suffered from Prader-Willi syndrome - a rare and incurable genetic condition which can lead to excessive eating, behavioural problems and temper tantrums.

“He was struggling to control his temper because of the medical condition he suffers from,” he said.

“It is not something that can be cured, so it’s about managing the symptoms, rather than curing them.”

Magistrates were advised that, according to sentencing guidelines, Pullen should be given a community order based on his level of offending, but magistrates gave him a 12-month conditional discharge because of the “exceptional circumstances” of the case.

He must also pay the care worker £200 in compensation, but no costs or victim surcharge were awarded.

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