Shropshire man found unconscious in road kicked and rugby tackled medic who came to help

James Fleet attacked ambulance worker George Downes just moments after he had been found lying unconscious in a road.

He kicked the paramedic as he ran from the ambulance, and then after Mr Downes tried to help Fleet as he lay in the road he rugby tackled him to the ground.

Mr Downes was off work for seven weeks as a result of the attack, which caused injuries to his back, and elbows. He was one of two paramedics who had found Fleet lying unconscious in in a pool of urine in Aston Street in Wem, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.

Fleet, 26, of Cordwell Park in Wem, admitted kicking and rugby tackling an ambulance worker to the ground when he appeared at court.

He was handed a six month suspended prison sentence by Judge Peter Barrie.

Mr Philip Brunt, prosecuting, said that two paramedics had been called to an incident involving an unconscious man at Aston Street in Wem at about 9.30pm on May 30.

Fleet was strapped into a harness and put in the back of the ambulance on a stretcher, but when the vehicle started moving Fleet shouted "I need to get out, they are after me".

He undid his harness and when the vehicle stopped he kicked Mr Downes as he ran from the ambulance.

Mr Brunt said: "Mr Downes then went up to him and asked if he was all right at which point he stood up, put his head down, and picked him up and rugby tackled him and threw him down in the road very heavily."

James Tait, who was travelling in a car as he witnessed the attack, said it was fortunate that they had not hit the two men.

Mr Adam Western, for Fleet, said: "Mr Fleet puts it best himself in the pre-sentence report where he says someone doing their job should not have to experience behaviour such as this."

He added that Fleet had expressed his shame over the assault.

Judge Barrie, sentencing Fleet, said: "Your behaviour towards a paramedic manning an ambulance that came to help when you were showing every sign of being in need of serious help, was something of which you are right to feel thoroughly ashamed. When Mr Downes came after you because you were obviously in a state, your reaction was to run at him and knock him over."

Fleet was also ordered complete 30 days of rehabilitation. He will also be subjected to a curfew between 9pm and 6am for 12 weeks. He was ordered to pay £400 compensation.