A nurse at a secure psychiatric unit suffered a broken wrist when she was attacked by a patient, a court heard.

Jolene Ruffles had pins placed in her injured arm and faces further treatment and possible complications such as arthritis.

Such was the impact of the attack at the Trevor Gibbens unit in Maidstone that Ms Ruffles questioned her future in nursing, Maidstone Crown Court was told.

She was attacked in March 2014 by Simone Todd.

The 30-year-old, who suffers from a schizoaffective disorder and borderline personality disorder, had been detained at the unit under the Mental Health Act for common assault.

The order included a section 41 time restriction which means only a judge, rather than medical staff, can decide when she is fit for release.

"It got to a stage where she questioned her ability to continue in the nursing profession" - Judge Statman

Todd faced the prospect of a similar punishment after she admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm to Ms Ruffles.

But after hearing from both prosecution and defence counsel that imposing another mental health order would serve no useful purpose, Judge Philip Statman took the unusual step of sentencing Todd to a two-year conditional discharge.

Todd appeared in court via video link from The Dene mental health hospital in Hassocks, West Sussex, where she is now detained.

Judge Statman said if she committed any further offences in that time, whether against staff or fellow patients, she would be brought back to court for re-sentencing and in "grave peril" of going to prison.

He added the two-year time period - the maximum length for a conditional discharge - would also enable her to reflect on the consequence of her actions while continuing with treatment.

"I want to make it absolutely clear to you that those who work in a hospital environment with individuals such as yourself who suffer from mental illnesses must receive the protection of the courts," Judge Statman told Todd.

He said the effect of her attack on Ms Ruffle's had been profound. "Not only has she suffered pain but she has suffered a loss of confidence.

"It got to a stage where she questioned her ability to continue in the nursing profession."

Todd has continued to receive state benefits of £140 a fortnight since she was detained and was ordered by the judge to pay £500 compensation to Ms Ruffles within 28 days.

The court heard she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 15 and has a history of self-harming and suicide attempts.

Psychiatrist Dr John Jacques said although her conditions were life-long, she had made progress and was "recovering".

But, in adding she needed to understand the consequences of her "aggressive behaviour", he agreed with legal teams that a conditional discharge would have the same impact as an hospital order.