A nurse wept today after a jury cleared her of hitting a severely disabled patient with a broom handle.

Philomena Judge was accused of using the broom handle to repeatedly hit the very vulnerable man in a hospital ward at Prospect Hospital, Honey End Lane, Tilehurst.

During the three day trial a jury of seven men and five women sitting at Reading Crown Court heard that Miss Judge went on to slap the frail man over the head with her hand as she "treated" him on a ward at the psychiatric hospital where she worked.

However, after only two hours and 20 minutes deliberation a jury acquitted Miss Judge of ill-treating a person who lacks mental capacity.

Ms Recorder Campbell told the jury today to take into account Miss Judge's previous good character and said she had gone into nursing because of the good it did for patients.

"Her interest had been instigated in that field because of the satisfaction she felt in seeing the results," she added.

"She is a woman of good character."

Miss Judge, of Kelvin Drive, in Yateley, Hants., denied she hit the mentally disabled patient with a broom, telling the court she was simply trying to calm him down.