A NURSE from Bury has been warned by a disciplinary council for assaulting a cerebral palsy sufferer as he lay in his bed.

Rodwell Mubare, aged 28, was accused of grabbing the man, known as Patient A, by the throat in March 2005 when he was supposed to be caring for him.

But, in a hearing last Friday, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) ruled that he only applied pressure to the patient’s shoulder in a bid to restrain him. He was given a caution order valid for two years.

Mr Mubare was working at St Luke’s Hospital in Norfolk when the incident took place. Russell Chaner, his manager, said he heard shouting coming from the patient’s bedroom. “I went to investigate. Patient A had cerebral palsy and mobility and paralysis issues. His bedroom door was closed. I knocked on the doors and went straight in,” said Mr Chaner. He added: “The patient was on his back on the bed. Mr Mubare had his hand round the patient’s throat.”

Mr Chaner told the NMC he ordered Mr Mubare to remove his hand immediately. The patient then became very vocal and was distressed. Mr Mubare admitted the incident happened but denied misconduct. He said: “I didn’t mean it. I didn’t want to harm the patient. I’ve always acted in the best interests of patients.”

Deborah Baljit, of the NMC, said later the same day Mr Mubare accepted a police caution for the incident. The NMC was told he had two previous convictions for drink-driving and for driving without insurance, from 2001 and 2003. Mr Mubare said: “I was quite immature at the time. I was coming from another country. I was quite isolated and had no family and no social support. I really stupidly did what I did. Since then I’ve grown up. I’m basically asking for another chance.”

Nurse Rodwell Mubare did not restrain a patient around the throat, his NMC tribunal ruled. They accepted he only applied pressure to the shoulder.