A FORMER senior sister at a hospital has been convicted of assaulting a 16-year-old patient.

Nancy Regan, 31, was working at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex, at the time of the offence and now lives in Newtons Road, Weymouth.

She faced trial at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court over allegations she put her hand over the mouth of a screaming girl yelling at her to “stop”.

Regan had denied the offence, which happened after the girl was admitted suffering an overdose, saying she put two fingers on the patient’s lips trying to quieten her down. Magistrates found Regan guilty and imposed a 12-month conditional discharge.

She was ordered to pay £135 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Regan lost her job after the incident and now faces disciplinary proceedings by the Nursing and Midwifery Council which could result in a ban or being struck off.

After the case, a spokesman for the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust said: “We would like to apologise unreservedly for the indefensible failing in this patient’s care and to stress that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated in our trust.”