A midwife who was left disabled after she was attacked by a new mum has spoken of her sevenyear battle for justice.

Jennifer Rhodes-Hampton was punched and kicked so hard that she was suffered spinal injuries which have left her walking with a stick.

The 47-year-old was in the recovery room at Worthing Hospital in August 2000, when she was beaten by a patient whose baby she had helped deliver.

Mrs Rhodes-Hampton finally won her case against Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust at London's Court of Appeal on Monday.

Last night, she spoke for the first time about how her injuries forced her to quit her career and stopped her from having children.

She also told how she now plans to live with her parents in Pevensey Road, Newhaven, after selling her home in Bay Vue Road, Newhaven, to pay the escalating legal costs.

Mrs Rhodes-Hampton said the attack still gives her nightmares and the strain of the legal fight almost ended her marriage.

She said: "I don't want anyone else to go through what I did and I hope this ruling will help staff who have been injured in hospital.

"Eric, my husband, had to dress me for nine months afterwards and I'm still in pain today. I was told with my back condition I would be unable to have children."

Mrs Rhodes-Hampton's case was dismissed at Brighton County Court last September, leaving her with more than £50,000 in legal bills. Her lawyers have now told her to expect a six-figure sum in compensation.

Lady Justice Smith ruled the anaesthetist was negligent for not taking precautions to prevent the patient from losing her temper.

Mrs Rhodes-Hampton said: "The patient had an emergency Caesarian.

"I was alone in the room with the anesthetist when the patient woke up.

"She was trying to get out of the bed and I was trying to stop her. She punched me in the chest and stomach. The pain was horrendous and I suffered spinal injuries."

Mrs Rhodes-Hampton, who qualified as a midwife in 1987, left the hospital trust in December 2004.

She is staying in Alabama, US, looking after an ill relative but plans to return to Newhaven next year.