Neo Wood in Coffs Harbour court for alleged rape of fellow hospital patient and nurse assault

A young patient at a Mid-North Coast hospital who allegedly raped an elderly male patient before assaulting a health worker in an incident filmed by another patient has fronted court.

Coffs Harbour hospital.

A young patient at a Mid-North Coast hospital who allegedly raped an elderly male patient before assaulting a health worker in an incident filmed by another patient has fronted court.

Neo Wood was in a general ward at Coffs Harbour Hospital earlier this year when the alleged attack took place.

Wood, who is currently on bail, appeared in person before Magistrate Julia Virgo in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old, whose occupation is recorded as a casual cleaner in court documents, is facing three charges and is yet to enter a plea.

He is charged with having sexual intercourse without consent and sexually touching the same alleged elderly male victim without consent between 11.30 and 11.45pm.

Neo Wood leaves Coffs Harbour Local Court.

Wood is further charged with assaulting a female frontline worker in the course of her duty causing actual bodily harm during the same timeframe.

During a previous court appearance on February 11 when he was first granted bail, his lawyer told the court Wood has no criminal history and could live at his mother’s place in Woolgoolga and report to police regularly.

At the time police prosecutor Kylie Banks opposed bail, saying it was too difficult to determine “how unpredictable” he would be in the community.

She told the court Wood was admitted to Coffs Harbour Hospital but staff were apparently “not aware how much of a danger he was to others”.

Ms Banks said it was clear Wood had “mental health concerns” but there were indications he was allegedly suffering “drug induced psychosis from MDMA and LSD” when the incident occurred.

According to Ms Banks, another patient in the ward at the time “filmed the entire” incident on a phone.

Coffs Harbour Health Campus falls within the Mid-North Coast Health District under NSW Health.

“The safety of staff, patients and visitors at our hospitals is our highest priority,” a spokesman said.

“We are unable to provide further comment as the matter is before the courts.”

The case has been adjourned to May 13.