A WOMAN who attacked a pregnant nurse in a drunken rage because she felt she was “being ignored” in hospital has been handed a six week sentence.

However, Lillian Tetris, from Barnet, walked free from Hendon Magistrates Court yesterday because of time spent in prison since the May 12 attack.

The court heard how the 40-year-old Pert Close resident had been taken to Barnet Hospital because she was so drunk and put in a cubicle.

But after a few minutes she became irate at being made to wait and approached a nurse, who had her back turned and was five months pregnant, at a workstation and hit her over the head.

Tetris then grabbed the pregnant woman by the hair and pulled her screaming to the ground, at which point other staff came to her aid.

The Pert Close resident told police she “took her anger out” on the nurse, who prosecutors said was found “shaken and distressed” from the unprovoked attack.

Staff managed to make her release the woman’s hair, but as the senior sister marched her out Tetris turned and punched her in the face.

Police were called and she was arrested that night and charged with two counts of assault and battery.

Superintendent Neil Seabridge said: “This was an unprovoked assault that all right minded people will deplore and condemn.

“Intoxication does not excuse vile behaviour; either morally or in the eyes of the law. People who assault those who are working on behalf of the community will always face a determined and vigorous police investigation.

“The effect of assaults on those serving the public also goes beyond the trauma suffered by the individual victim; it impacts of the ability of a service to treat others in need of help. “Those who work in the community should be safe to do so and Barnet police will always strive to ensure that they receive the law’s protection.”

Tetris pleaded guity and was given a six week sentence, but was released because of time served on remand.