Tuesday 9th September 2014 – 4.10pm – Jamie Arrowsmith
A man has been given a suspended prison sentence for assaulting two paramedics in Birmingham.
James Precelton, 31, from Edgbaston, was sentenced on Friday to four months in prison, suspended for 24 months, and ordered to pay £250 in compensation and an £80 victim surcharge.
The incident took place when West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Bartholomew Street in Birmingham on July 2nd. As well as assaulting two paramedics, Mr Precelton also damaged an ambulance.
Reflecting on the incident, one of the paramedics who attended the call, Mike Duggan, said: “It is extremely disappointing to suffer physical abuse when we are trying to help members of the public with medical emergencies.
“I am pleased to see that both the ambulance service and police have taken such a strong stance regarding this matter.”
Steve Elliker, West Midlands Ambulance Service’s Regional Head of Security and Safety said: “The Trust welcomes the sentence that has been passed on this occasion. It is completely unacceptable that ambulance staff, who are responding to help people who have serious medical conditions or injuries, should have to face violence and verbal abuse.
“The Trust has a zero tolerance policy in place and works extremely hard to bring the full weight of the law to bear on anyone who attacks our staff. It is simply not acceptable that staff who are there to help people, suffer at the hands of patients, their relatives or other people at the scene. Any type of assault against our staff will not be tolerated.”
Ends
Good! But 4 months? Really? And even that was suspended?