A one-legged patient went berserk in a hospital kicking out at a nurse and throwing a phone before being restrained by security guards.

Teesside Crown Court heard how it took six people to over power disabled Keith Jones after he flew into a rage at Middlesbrough's South Cleveland Hospital.

The 30-year-old denied charges of affray and common assault but a jury returned guilty verdicts after hearing how he lost his temper after being brought in with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.

Dan Cordey, prosecuting said Jones had been telephoning his mother from a ward clerk's desk when his "shouting and swearing" prompted Sister Kathleen Durham to call security.

Mrs Durham said that Jones then made another call to his landlord, again swearing, shouting and banging the desk, angry because he had "nearly died" due to a faulty gas heater at his former home in Carlin How.

She said that he then threw the phone at her and following that Staff Nurse Sandra Gallagher was knocked backwards into a metal trolley when Jones "flailed" his arms about and kicked out at her.

Jones, of Addington Drive, Pallister Park, said he had been left unconscious by a faulty gas heater in his rented house and he awoke in hospital. He denied becoming aggressive or kicking a nurse and said that he had been calm throughout.

Jones, who was not wearing his false leg at the time, insisted that he had not thrown the telephone.

He said that it had come loose when he was grabbed from behind by security guards and "unnecessarily over-powered".

Judge John Walford told the court after the verdict that Jones had a bad record for violence.

He was remanded in custody to await sentence.