Attack on Shropshire paramedic not acceptable, says ambulance boss

Officials at West Midlands Ambulance Service said they were "disappointed" that James Fleet was only given a suspended jail sentence for his actions that saw paramedic George Downes signed off work for seven weeks.

Fleet, 26, from Wem, had been put in an ambulance after being found lying unconscious on a road before he ran clear and attacked Mr Downes. But he was spared a jail sentence after a judge ruled that he could not be certain the actions were a result of alcohol or drugs he had voluntarily taken.

Anthony Marsh, chief executive of West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: "We are disappointed that the sentence handed down was not more severe given the dreadful nature of the attack.

"I will not tolerate any abuse of my staff and we will always pursue attackers and push for the toughest possible sentence."

Steve Elliker, West Midlands Ambulance Service's head of security and safety, added: "It is extremely disappointing that any of our staff suffer at the hands of people they are trying to help. In this case, the member of staff continued to try and help the man who attacked him even though he had been injured.

"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."

Fleet was given a six-month suspended sentence order at Shrewsbury Crown Court earlier this week.

The order includes a requirement to complete 30 days of rehabilitation, and a curfew between 9pm and 6am for 12 weeks. He was also ordered to pay £400 compensation to Mr Downes.

The court had heard how Fleet had kicked Mr Downes while trying to get out of the ambulance after telling the driver "I need to get out, they are after me".

Mr Downes and his colleague had originally attended a call out to reports of an unconscious man in a pizza restaurant in Wem at 9.30pm on May 30.

After running off from the ambulance, Mr Downes went to check if Fleet was okay, only for the 26-year-old to slam him to the floor with a rugby tackle – injuring his arms and his back.