A nursing assistant feared she was going to be killed after being choked by a patient.
Jacqueline Homer was knocked out when Sean Friedrich strangled her with a shoelace at Stratheden Hospital in Cupar on July 15.
After the attack, Friedrich, 37, ripped a fire extinguisher from a wall and threatened to hurl it at a nurse.
A judge heard how the incident has left Miss Homer badly traumatised.
Friedrich had faced a number of charges at the High Court in Glasgow including the attempted murder of the nursing assistant.
However, he was acquitted when prosecutors accepted his not guilty pleas after it concluded he was suffering from a mental disorder at the time.
He was made the subject of an interim compulsion order for him to continue to remain in hospital meantime for treatment.
‘Strangled’ nursing assistant from behind
Friedrich had been admitted to Stratheden – which cares for patients with mental health issues – the day before the attack.
On July 15, Miss Homer had been tasked to keep watch on him.
Prosecutor Paul Harvey said she was outside his room when Friedrich appeared agitated and breathing heavily.
Mr Harvey said: “She got up from her seat and briefly turned away from Friedrich.
“He approached, put his arms over her and began strangling her with a shoelace.
“When she struggled, he pulled the shoelace tighter.
“Miss Homer believed she was going to die.
“She became unconscious for an unknown period of time.
“She remembers waking up on the floor of the corridor and was aware Friedrich was no longer strangling her.”
‘He’s tried to kill me’
A colleague had spotted Miss Homer slumping to the ground and raced to help.
Friedrich threatened both before they fled to a kitchen area for safety.
Staff nurse Karen Martin heard alarms sounding.
She then saw Miss Homer, who told her: “He’s tried to kill me.”
Miss Martin then went to Friedrich’s room and he was aggressive with her.
He went on to discharge a fire extinguisher towards the woman.
Friedrich later smashed a window and confronted police when they turned up.
Two officers eventually had to “forcibly restrain” him in his room.
Ongoing health implications
Miss Homer needed hospital treatment but did not suffer any serious injuries.
However, the court heard she continues to suffer “anxiety and depression” as result of what happened.
She needed time off work to recover and remains fearful of people standing behind her.
Nurse Miss Martin also has “flashbacks” of what happened that day.
Friedrich is now at the Orchard Clinic at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.
He had previously reported hallucinations and suicidal thoughts before the attack.
Two psychiatrists agreed Friedrich did not “appreciate the nature and wrongfulness” of what he had done due to his mental health issues.
The case will call again at a later date.
