Teenager who threw boy from Tate Modern given extra jail time for attacking hospital staff

Jonty Bravery punched nursing assistant in head after she said she would clean his room

A teenager who threw a child from the Tate Modern’s viewing platform has been given another prison sentence for attacking staff at a psychiatric hospital.

Jonty Bravery, 19, was being held at the high-security Broadmoor Hospital while awaiting sentence for attempted murder.

Westminster Magistrates' Court heard Bravery punched a nursing assistant in the face after she said she was going to clean his room on 29 January, then bit another staff member who rushed to help her.

Appearing from HMP Belmarsh by video-link, Bravery admitted two counts of common assault on Tuesday and was given an additional 14-week prison sentence.

He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 15 years in June, for throwing a six-year-old French boy from the Tate Modern’s 10th-floor viewing platform on 4 August 2019.

Chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot told Bravery: “In my view, what makes this really serious is this woman was quite vulnerable and in a difficult job in Broadmoor.

”It was pretty nasty. She had her back to you when you struck. You punched her face and her head, pulled her hair and took her down to the ground. It was a really horrible attack.

“Other officers came to help, then you bit the finger of the second complainant, Maxwell King, because he had to come to help her. It's deeply unpleasant.”

Prosecutor Michael Mallon described Bravery as “somewhat notorious”. He told the court the teenager was taken out of his room at Broadmoor on the day of the attack for some fresh air, and Ms Edwards went in to get him a jumper.

“She made a passing comment that she was going to give his room a quick clean because of the smell emanating,” he said.

The court heard that Bravery shouted “no, no, no”, before becoming verbally abusive and launching the attack.

Eighteen-year-old remanded in custody ahead of sentencing

“He lunged forwards, grabbed her from behind with his left hand and started punching with his right hand around her face and head, around four or five times. She screamed in pain and fear,” said Mr Mallon.

“Ms Edwards tried to grab him with both arms to stop the assault. Mr Bravery had hold of Ms Edwards's hair with both hands and, in the struggle, they fell to the ground.”

The court heard Bravery tried to kick the woman and was heard shouting that he wanted to hurt her before other colleagues arrived to help.

Mr King, a rehabilitation therapist assistant, was bit on the finger as he tried to restrain him.

A chunk of Ms Edwards' hair was pulled out, and she was left with a lump on her head and needed seven weeks off work.

Andrew Bousfield, defending, said Bravery had been diagnosed with autism and a personality disorder and the offences were linked to his mental disorder.

“Mr Bravery wants to apologise for his attack. He has pleaded guilty because he is acutely aware of the effect this has had on his family,” he said.

The Old Bailey previously heard Bravery had a history of lashing out at staff before the Tate Modern attack, and had been living in supported accommodation under the care of Hammersmith and Fulham social services.

Then 17, he had researched the most effective way to carry out a killing, narrowing it down to strangulation, drowning or throwing someone from a building, and visited the Shard skyscraper before reaching the art gallery.

Bravery was seen backing away from the railings while smiling and appearing to laugh after throwing his victim off the viewing platform.

The boy fell five storeys before landing on a roof, and was left with life-changing injuries. It is not known whether he will make a full recovery.

When challenged by the victim’s father, Bravery told him he was “mad” and witnesses described him having a “big smile on his face”.

Earlier this month, Bravery dropped a Court of Appeal bid to be moved from prison to hospital, while his appeal against the length of his 15-year sentence was dismissed.

Additional reporting by PA