A DRUNKEN patient who attacked two nurses at Royal Blackburn Hospital has been jailed.

Blackburn magistrates heard Mohammed Ishfaq had sneaked out of the hospital to buy booze before trying to punch one of the nurses and throwing a chair which hit another on the arm.

Ishfaq, 36, of Harcourt Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting an emergency worker.

He was jailed for 12 weeks and ordered to pay a £122 victim surcharge on release.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the incident happened on the Darwen Ward where Ishfaq was a patient.

Staff suspected he was under the influence of alcohol and found drink in his room.

"When he was challenged he became angry and aggressive and tried to punch one of the nurses," said Miss Allan.

"He then picked up a number of chairs and threw them at the nurses and one of them was hit on the arm as she tried to protect herself."

Miss Allan said security managed to restrain Ishfaq until the police arrived.

She said the defendant was subject to prison licence as a result of a conviction for grievous bodily harm in June 2018.

Richard Prew, defending, said his client could remember nothing of the incident.

"He had left the hospital and purchased alcohol and then drank to excess," said Mr Prew.

He said Ishfaq suffered from depression and hearing voices and clearly there were some mental health issues.

"Fortunately the two nurses involved did not suffer any great degree of injury," said Mr Prew.

"There were enough staff there to restrain him and keep him calm and it would appear he fell asleep before the police arrived."