A PATIENT at a Hampshire mental health unit poured boiling water over a care support worker after hearing a voice commanding him to attack him.

Sipho Dlomo had just filled a cup with the water and was washing up a teaspoon when Peter Watkins followed him into the kitchen.

The court heard there had been no build-up to what happened and Watkins had not been provoked, but the patient picked up the cup and emptied the contents over his back.

Staff at the Tatchbury Mount Hospital, Southampton, gave the victim basic treatment before he was initially taken to Southampton General Hospital before being transferred to a specialist burns unit where he was treated for three days.

Mr Dlomo lost some skin but had made a good recovery, though he was still suffering from some discolouration.

In a statement he told police how the incident had left him feeling self-conscious and anxious, and he had suffered flashbacks. He had since transferred to another hospital. He was off work for about three weeks and lost £1,000 in wages.

Watkins, 31, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at Southampton Crown Court to inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Judge Peter Henry heard he had been detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act since 2002 after admitting two counts of arson and had eight other matters taken into consideration.

The court heard Watkins had previously attacked other members of staff after being urged by the voices in his head to do so.

Richard Barrett, defending, acdcepted Mr Dlomo had suffered a harrowing experience, and Watkins was sorry for what he had done.

“On occasions he has inappropriate thoughts and urges to attack people for no apparent reason. The urges come on and he cannot control them.”

The judge said it would cause difficulties if he sentenced Watkins – who has since moved to a unit in Oxfordshire – to a further hospital order and all he could do was to order him to pay Mr Dlomo compensation.

He heard Watkins had £28,000 savings and ordered him to pay Mr Dlomo £2,500 in compensation and a further £300 towards the prosecution’s costs.