Jacob Raymond Anton Purcell, 19, of Capalaba attacks nurse at mental health ward

A serial offending teen’s vicious attack on a nurse followed a drive in a stolen car while on meth, a court has heard.

A court has heard a mental health ward nurse punched by a serial offending teen required psychological treatment to return to work.

Appearing at Cleveland Magistrates Court on Tuesday Jacob Raymond Anton Purcell, 19, of Capalaba pleaded guilty to serious assault of public officer performing a function, drug driving and driving without a licence.

The court heard an agitated Purcell at 12.15pm on July 29 last year was being admitted to the mental health ward at Redland Hospital when he assaulted the 42-year-old registered nurse.

According to police, as soon as the defendant’s cuffs were removed, he stepped forward and punched the man on the chin.

His victim felt immediate pain and discomfort, suffered soft tissue damage and had to seek psychological counselling in order to resume his work.

The “unprovoked” attack came on the back of a five-page criminal and two-page traffic history.

Jacob Raymond Anton Purcell, 19, of Capalaba. Picture: Facebook.

It followed an earlier police intercept on March 14 last year.

At 3.45am Purcell was observed running from a stolen vehicle on George St in Brisbane City before he was arrested.

Tests would confirm he had meth in his system at the time.

A bodycam video shown to the court depicting Purcell being remanded to a secure room after his assault on July 29 was criticised by defence solicitor Lyle Parker.

Mr Parker noted his client was in a “very unhappy state” following a request to contact family and was sworn at by security after his attack.

The defence further noted Purcell had lost a child in terrible circumstances and was youthful.

Magistrate Deborah Vasta denounced Purcell for his assault on the nurse.

“Their job is difficult enough as it is; you couldn’t pay me enough to be a nurse,” Ms Vasta said.

Purcell was sentenced to four months’ prison wholly suspended over 12 months.

He was further ordered to pay his victim $300 in compensation and disqualified from driving for three months.