A 24-year-old man who spat at paramedics and bit one on the ribs while they were trying to treat him after he had absconded from Warrington Hospital, has been handed a rehabilitation order.
Bradley Smith appeared at Liverpool Crown Court where he was ordered to undertake a 60-day community rehabilitation order. He must also serve a four-month curfew and undertake alcohol abstinence and monitoring for 120 days.
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Smith, of Buckton Street, Warrington, had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting an emergency services worker.
The charges relate to an incident that occurred on Saturday 20 June 2020 when Smith absconded from Warrington Hospital.
Due to concerns for his welfare the hospital reported his disappearance to Cheshire Police and asked for officers to attend to help locate him.
Smith was subsequently found nearby on Lovely Lane.
As officers and paramedics attempted to place him into the back of an ambulance he became aggressive.
He went on to spit at one of the paramedics, before punching him and biting him in the rib area.
The attack caused the paramedic to sustain soft tissue damage to his right hand which meant he was unable to work for two weeks.
Following the initial attack, officers were able to restrain Smith and he was placed into the back of the ambulance.
However, he then went on to cough in the face of a second paramedic who was attempting to treat him, before spitting on his uniform.
Smith was subsequently taken to hospital to be treated before later being charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency services worker.
Following his sentencing, Police Constable Cadman, said: “Throughout the coronavirus pandemic paramedics have gone above and beyond in their role to support some of the most vulnerable residents in our community.
“They have put their own lives at risk in order to protect others and they don’t go to work in order to be assaulted.
“The actions taken by Smith that day are totally unacceptable, to bite, cough, punch and spit at people who are trying to help you is indefensible and I welcome the sentence handed to him.”
The court heard Smith had mental health issues and had been experimenting with synthetic drugs, including spice, which had had a devastating impact on him.
