Breanna Ryan admits to ‘out of character’ attack on Geraldton Hospital security guard

An “academically bright” young woman has admitted to a drunken attack on a hospital security guard — kicking him in the groin multiple times — after she was taken there by friends when she injured herself falling out of a car. Breanna June Ryan, 20, expressed remorse over the serious assault on a security officer at Geraldton Hospital earlier this year. Ryan, pictured, was charged with disorderly behaviour, trespassing and assault occasioning bodily harm over the incident, and pleaded guilty to all three charges in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. According to her lawyer, Karen Ward, Ryan was “extremely intoxicated” and injured when she arrived at the hospital on March 10. “What’s happened is Ms Ryan was dropped there by friends with a blood alcohol concentration of .25,” she said. “She had fallen out of a car and was injured.” Ryan was being escorted off the hospital grounds by a security officer for trespassing and behaving in a disorderly manner when she turned on him and kicked him in the groin multiple times. Prosecutor Acting Sgt Beau Jones said the “serious assault” was captured on CCTV and left the victim with “bruising and swelling to his testicles”. Ms Ward said at the time of the incident Ryan had lost her job due to pressures from the COVID-19 pandemic and was drinking heavily. She said this behaviour was “out of character” for the 20-year-old. The case was remanded until February 8 for sentencing after Ms Ward told the court the defence would apply for a spent conviction. “She’s an academically bright young woman and we’ve spoken about career paths she may take,” she said. “A conviction like this will potentially impact her for a long time.” Magistrate Chris Miocevich said: “While this serious offence is higher-end ... I’ll remand sentencing and give her the opportunity to put her best foot forward.”