A MAN has admitting assaulting two women in Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

Martin Clavin, of Berry Brow, appeared in Huddersfield Magistrates Court yesterday.

The 23-year-old was accused of assaulting Carol Whitely and Valerie Sharp at the Lindley hospital on August 23, 2007.

Clavin pleaded guilty to the attacks on March 25. He also admitted a further charge of failing to answer bail.

Clavin was due to be sentenced yesterday but magistrates agreed to postpone the sentencing until May 6 to allow a probation report to be compiled.

Defence solicitor Charles Ainley told the court his client knew he would probably be jailed for the offence.

Mr Ainley said: “He’s well aware he’s staring down the gun barrel of custody. The assault took place at the Infirmary while he was heavily in drink.”

Mr Ainley added that Clavin was trying to provide for his partner.

He said: “Martin Clavin lives with his partner who is pregnant. He is the sole breadwinner and he is concerned about his partner being able to pay the rent.

“He is working every second of overtime he can.”

The case follows a report last month that more than 330 hospital workers a year face abuse doing their jobs in Huddersfield.

Incidents ranging from verbal abuse to physical attacks from patients and their families were among the 333 cases reported to bosses at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust from 2006 to 2007. The shock figures came as one in three UK doctors claimed they had been physically or verbally attacked in the past year without reporting it.

The survey – by the British Medical Association – also showed one in 10 had been the victims of serious incidents including being stabbed, kicked, punched, bitten and spat at. A third had received minor injuries in the attacks and one in 20 had been seriously injured.