Barrister injured in court attack

A woman barrister suffered bruising to her arm and shoulder as she defended a female social worker in court from an alleged sex attacker.

The defendant jumped from the dock and aimed kicks and blows at the social worker who was sitting in the public gallery at Blackfriars Crown Court.

Prosecuting counsel Kate Bex, 33, got between the man and the social worker, who was cut and bruised in yesterday's attack.

There was only one security officer in the dock with the man, who is accused of attempted rape and assault.

Miss Bex said that, after the defendant spotted the social worker, "he placed both hands on top of the glass around the dock and vaulted over the ledge. He ran to the public gallery and grabbed the social worker, punched her on the head and knocked her to the ground. There seemed to be no one to intervene - I went over and got between the two."

The security of ficer pressed a panic button which alerted other security staff, who overpowered the man.