A British court has handed down a 16-week prison sentence to Jonty Bravery, a 24-year-old man with autism, for violently assaulting two nurses at Broadmoor hospital. The sentence will run concurrently with his existing life sentence, which carries a minimum term of 15 years.
Bravery's conviction comes after he was found guilty of assaulting Linda McKinlay and Kate Mastalerz in September 2024. According to court records, Bravery kicked one nurse in the thigh and clawed at the face of another, leaving her with blood dripping down her cheek.
The incident highlights concerns over the care and supervision of individuals with autism in high-security psychiatric hospitals. Bravery was previously sentenced to a 14-week jail term for attacking hospital staff in 2020, including punching a nursing assistant in the head and face before pulling her hair.
Despite his history of violent behavior, Bravery's sentence is seen as relatively short by some experts, who argue that it does not take into account the severity of his actions. The incident also raises questions about the balance between public safety and the rights of individuals with autism to receive care in institutions.
Bravery had been supervised by three staff members at all times when he attacked McKinlay and Mastalerz, but they were unable to prevent him from carrying out the assault. The court heard that Bravery was being treated for his autism as part of a specialized program.
The 100ft fall from the Tate Modern's balcony in which Bravery threw the six-year-old French boy with life-changing injuries still remains a traumatic event for those involved, including the victim and his family. While Bravery will spend most of his sentence in Broadmoor hospital, some have expressed concerns that he could pose a risk to himself or others during periods of treatment outside of the hospital's secure environment.
Bravery's conviction comes after he was found guilty of assaulting Linda McKinlay and Kate Mastalerz in September 2024. According to court records, Bravery kicked one nurse in the thigh and clawed at the face of another, leaving her with blood dripping down her cheek.
The incident highlights concerns over the care and supervision of individuals with autism in high-security psychiatric hospitals. Bravery was previously sentenced to a 14-week jail term for attacking hospital staff in 2020, including punching a nursing assistant in the head and face before pulling her hair.
Despite his history of violent behavior, Bravery's sentence is seen as relatively short by some experts, who argue that it does not take into account the severity of his actions. The incident also raises questions about the balance between public safety and the rights of individuals with autism to receive care in institutions.
Bravery had been supervised by three staff members at all times when he attacked McKinlay and Mastalerz, but they were unable to prevent him from carrying out the assault. The court heard that Bravery was being treated for his autism as part of a specialized program.
The 100ft fall from the Tate Modern's balcony in which Bravery threw the six-year-old French boy with life-changing injuries still remains a traumatic event for those involved, including the victim and his family. While Bravery will spend most of his sentence in Broadmoor hospital, some have expressed concerns that he could pose a risk to himself or others during periods of treatment outside of the hospital's secure environment.
... 16 weeks? Come on! 
Jonty Bravery has been through so much and his autism makes him vulnerable to meltdowns, but it seems like he's just getting more punishment instead of getting the help he needs. 
I don't get why they can't find a way to support him without putting others in harm's way... 
And what about the 100ft fall? That was a traumatic event for everyone involved, and now Bravery is facing even more trauma with this sentence 
. I mean, I know Jonty Bravery has autism and all, but 16 weeks is just...not enough time to reflect on his actions, you know? 
It feels like he's still getting away with something, even if it was a violent crime against two nurses 
. And what about the kid he threw off the Tate Modern balcony? 
That's a traumatic event that'll stay with him forever. I'm not saying Bravery doesn't need help or treatment, but 16 weeks in prison just doesn't cut it, IMO 
It feels like a drop in the bucket compared to the trauma he's caused and the lives he's ruined. And let's be real, 3 staff members were literally unable to stop him from having another meltdown... how do you not see that as a sign of systemic failure? 
The fact that his autism treatment is being questioned because of one incident just highlights how underfunded and understaffed the system is. 
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. If they couldn't prevent it from happening, what's being done to ensure his treatment in Broadmoor is more effective? I'm not saying Bravery doesn't need help or anything, but this incident raises so many questions about how we're supporting people with autism and keeping them safe 
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. I'm not sure what the solution is here, but it feels like we need to have a more nuanced conversation about how to balance our responsibilities towards people with autism with the need to keep everyone safe 
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. I know he has autism and was being treated for it, but that shouldn't mean we excuse violent behavior from him 
. The fact that three staff members were with him during the assault and still couldn't prevent it is really concerning 
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especially considering his autism diagnosis - shouldn't he've gotten more support and resources within the system to prevent this from happening in the first place? 
. It highlights how we need better support systems in place for people with autism, especially in these kinds of environments. We can't just lock them up and throw away the key without trying to address the root causes of their behavior 
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I don't know, it feels like a really long sentence considering all the circumstances. But hey, at least it'll keep him occupied in Broadmoor for a while. 
. But on the other hand, two nurses did get seriously hurt 
and people are saying that his actions were super violent... but wasn't he already on life sentence for a similar thing? 
I'm all for protecting others, but at the same time, we gotta make sure these kids are getting the help they need 
. What's the verdict here? Is 16 weeks enough or too little? 
. Maybe they should be looking at longer sentences for those who put others in harm's way, regardless of their diagnosis