A British court has handed down a 16-week prison sentence to Jonty Bravery, a 24-year-old man with autism, for assaulting two nurses at Broadmoor hospital. The sentence will run concurrently with his existing 15-year minimum term for throwing a six-year-old boy off the Tate Modern's balcony in 2019.
Bravery was found guilty of two counts of assault after kicking one nurse, Linda McKinlay, in the thigh and clawing at the face of another, Kate Mastalerz. The victims had been trying to prevent Bravery from climbing a ledge when he launched his attack, which left both nurses with severe injuries.
The incident highlights concerns about the safety of patients with autism who are living in high-security psychiatric hospitals such as Broadmoor. In 2020, Bravery was given an initial 14-week jail sentence for attacking hospital staff after biting one colleague and pulling another's hair.
Bravery had initially been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 15 years for throwing the French boy from the Tate Modern's balcony, but his subsequent conviction for assaulting the nurses has reduced that sentence. Despite refusing to appear at court via video link, Bravery remains under supervision by three staff members and is being held at Broadmoor hospital.
Bravery was found guilty of two counts of assault after kicking one nurse, Linda McKinlay, in the thigh and clawing at the face of another, Kate Mastalerz. The victims had been trying to prevent Bravery from climbing a ledge when he launched his attack, which left both nurses with severe injuries.
The incident highlights concerns about the safety of patients with autism who are living in high-security psychiatric hospitals such as Broadmoor. In 2020, Bravery was given an initial 14-week jail sentence for attacking hospital staff after biting one colleague and pulling another's hair.
Bravery had initially been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 15 years for throwing the French boy from the Tate Modern's balcony, but his subsequent conviction for assaulting the nurses has reduced that sentence. Despite refusing to appear at court via video link, Bravery remains under supervision by three staff members and is being held at Broadmoor hospital.
! They were just trying to help this guy who needs extra support, you know? But the system can be really tough on people with autism 
. I mean, 16 weeks in prison is still a long time 
... 24 years old and already dealing with so much stress & anxiety 
. We need to make sure we're supporting these patients in ways that work for them, not just punishing them 
. Can't wait for some changes in the way we care for people with autism 
. We'd try to help 'em work through their issues or get 'em some proper therapy.
. Maybe they should've taken a more holistic approach to dealin' with autism in hospitals?
I'm so worried about people like Jonty Bravery who are living with autism and have serious issues with managing their emotions. It's clear that he needs extra support and understanding from the system, but instead he's facing harsh punishments in a court of law 
.
. It's not about being "bad" or "aggressive", it's about needing help and understanding 
. I hope he gets the support he needs and can eventually be released from Broadmoor and start his journey towards recovery 
.
. Throwing a kid off the Tate Modern's balcony was bad enough 
, but now he's getting 
more time for kicking some nurses 
? That's just not right 
! We need to be more understanding and inclusive 
. Broadmoor hospital should be a safe space for all patients 
, regardless of their abilities 
I don't think 16 weeks is enough for someone with autism who's already got a history of violent outbursts... what were the nurses supposed to do? Try to read minds or anticipate attacks before they happen? 
Patients with autism are often misunderstood and struggle with sensory overload, it's like throwing them into a lion's den without considering their needs. 
.
.
. But seriously, can we talk about what's going on with Jonty Bravery? I mean, 16 weeks for assaulting two nurses? That seems way too harsh, especially considering he has autism and was already given a minimum 15-year sentence for something else. 
, but you gotta protect those nurses too 
Like, that don't seem right 2 me...
It's like the system is failing them. And to make matters worse, he was already on life sentence for another incident... what's going on here? 
My heart goes out to that little boy who almost fell to his death 
...I mean, I know it's not ideal for a guy with autism to be in a situation like that, but 16 weeks feels way too harsh imo 
. I'm no expert, but isn't there supposed to be more support for people on the spectrum?