People who attack nurses should face long prison sentences, a York judge has said.

Judge Paul Hoffman was sentencing a psychiatric patient for assaulting two staff on night duty at Stockton Hall Hospital, Stockton-on-the-Forest, York, with a table leg.

William Hadad, 36, said he "enjoyed seeing blood spilling" from the head of one of his victims, according to Geraldine Kelly, prosecuting at York Crown Court.

He has several convictions for violence. When he appeared before York Magistrates Court in November, he was so angry at being committed to the crown court for sentence, he smashed a courtroom door window.

The judge ordered him to be detained at a secure hospital until doctors decreed he is cured.

"If it had not been for this proposal for an order for medical treatment, I would have locked you up for a long time, because nurses in psychiatric institutions or anywhere else have got to enjoy the protection of the courts," he told Hadad.

Hadad was returned to Stockton Hall, where he has remained since the attacks on October 14 because of an order made under the Mental Health Act.

His lawyer, Richard Reed, said he was willing to be transferred to the "proper unit" to receive treatment for his psychopathic and schizophrenic disorders.

Hadad pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm to two members of staff at about 2.30am on October 14.

Miss Kelly said a male member of staff received cuts to his head when Hadad hit him. The patient also hit a woman nurse on the arms.

At an earlier hearing, York magistrates heard that Hadad hit out with a table leg he had concealed under his jacket as the two staff members were in an office off a hospital ward.

He was angry he had not been allowed to use a lighter at about 2.30am. The hospital has a no-smoking policy at nights.

Mr Reed said he had been under stress because of family problems.

He had also had a hearing by a mental health tribunal board, at which he accepted he needed more treatment before he could be released.