Man Who Threw Boy From Tate Modern Balcony Jailed for Attacking Nurses at Broadmoor

A man who previously shocked the country by throwing a young boy from a balcony at London’s Tate Modern has been sentenced to a further jail term after attacking two nurses at a high security psychiatric hospital.

Jonty Bravery was jailed for 16 weeks after pleading guilty to assaulting two members of staff at Broadmoor Hospital in September 2024. The court heard that Bravery kicked one nurse in the thigh and violently clawed at another’s face, drawing blood and leaving visible injuries.

One of the nurses told the court that the attack was sudden and frightening. She said Bravery went for her face, clawing and scratching, leaving her eye and face marked. The second nurse was struck during the same incident while attempting to manage Bravery safely within the secure unit.

The attacks took place while Bravery was being detained at Broadmoor, where he is held following his conviction for the attempted murder of a six year old boy at Tate Modern in 2019. In that case, Bravery threw the child from a viewing platform, causing life changing injuries. He was later sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term, after being diagnosed with a severe personality disorder.

At the sentencing hearing for the assaults on hospital staff, the judge said violence against healthcare workers, particularly those working in high risk environments, would not be tolerated. The court recognised the challenging conditions nurses face when caring for dangerous and unpredictable patients, and stressed that staff must be protected while carrying out their duties.

The judge acknowledged Bravery’s mental health history but said it did not excuse the behaviour. The sentence was ordered to run consecutively, reflecting the seriousness of attacking staff who were acting in a professional capacity to ensure safety and treatment.

Broadmoor Hospital staff are trained to manage patients with complex and severe mental health conditions, many of whom have committed serious offences. Incidents of violence are not uncommon, but cases that result in prosecution are treated as particularly serious, especially when injuries are caused.

The attacks have renewed calls from unions and professional bodies for greater protection and support for mental health workers in secure hospitals. Representatives say assaults on staff remain a persistent issue and can have lasting psychological as well as physical effects on victims.

Prosecutors said the case highlighted the risks faced daily by nurses working in secure psychiatric settings. They praised the victims for continuing to work in a demanding environment despite the trauma of the incident.

Bravery did not speak in court during the sentencing. The additional jail term means he will remain detained within the secure system, where his behaviour will continue to be closely monitored.

The case serves as a reminder that even within hospital settings, violence against staff is treated as a criminal matter, and those responsible will face further punishment regardless of their existing sentences.