Prisoner choked female guard with handcuffs chain after they were left alone in hospital waiting room

A prisoner choked a terrified female guard with a handcuffs chain after they were left alone in a hospital waiting room.

The GEOAmey worker suffered bruising and swelling to her neck and throat during the struggle with Darren McLellan.

McLellan, 40, was jailed for 16 months at Hamilton Sheriff Court for the "nasty" attack.

He admitted assaulting the woman at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride on November 13 last year.

Gemma Trosh, prosecuting, said McLellan had been taken to accident and emergency after a "medical episode" during an appearance at the same court.

She said: "They were in a side room and the accused demanded the female custody officer take off his handcuffs.

"She refused and he pushed her against a wall, put the chain against her neck and restricted her breathing.

"There was a struggle and the woman shouted for help. The accused punched her multiple times on the body before the officer's colleague, who had been outside phoning a supervisor, entered the room.

"The female officer had redness and swelling to her face and was, understandably, upset."

Defence lawyer Stephen MacBride said McLellan suffers from various serious medical conditions and had taken a seizure at court.

The solicitor added: "He has little recollection of this incident. Thankfully it did not result in a more serious injury."

Sheriff Liam Murphy told McLellan: "This was a fairly nasty assault and custody is the only appropriate sentence."

The 16-month stretch was cut from 24 months because of his guilty plea.

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