Shropshire paramedic says attacker's suspended prison sentence 'a slap on the wrist'
A paramedic who was kicked and rugby tackled by a man he was trying to help today criticised his attacker's suspended jail sentence.
George Downes, 58, of Wem, was part of an ambulance crew called to assist James Fleet at about 9.30pm on May 30 last year.
After being given treatment and placed in the ambulance, Fleet, 26, of Cordwell Park, Wem, who was found unconscious and in a pool of urine, demanded the vehicle stop, shouting "I need to get out, they are after me."
When the vehicle stopped he kicked Mr Downes as he jumped from the vehicle, before rugby tackling the paramedic to the ground after he again ran to Fleet's assistance.
Fleet was given a six-month suspended prison sentence at Shrewsbury Crown Court, ordered to complete 30 days of rehabilitation, and was placed under a curfew from 9pm to 6am for 12 weeks.
Today Mr Downes said he decided to speak about his experience in the hope that it will prevent further attacks by forcing people to think about how they treat members of the emergency services.
But the paramedic, who has worked for the ambulance service for 37 years, said he felt let down by the sentence, describing it as a "slap on the wrist". He said: "I am extremely disappointed with the sentence handed out and I feel an injustice has been done.
"It sends out a message that an attack or assault on any emergency staff personnel doing their duty only merits a mere slap on the wrist because it is perceived to be expected as a part of their role. That just isn't right.
"A suspended sentence, a night time curfew and some petty costs is hardly going to deter him from doing this again."
Judge Peter Barrie said Fleet was spared a jail sentence because he could not be certain the actions were a result of alcohol or drugs he had voluntarily taken.
However, Mr Downes said he believed Fleet and others in his situation should be responsible for their own actions. He said alcohol or drugs were never an excuse for violence or law-breaking.
He said: "As a uniformed paramedic, I was there to help him due to him being semi-conscious. This wasn't forced upon him, it was his own choice."
Mr Downes said the attack had also left him suffering from an ongoing arm injury and had forced him off work for seven weeks.
He said: "It is very fortunate for him that he can't remember anything about his behaviour that night. Unfortunately for me, I can, and I have an ongoing arm injury to remind me.
"The ambulance service has also paid the price of losing a frontline paramedic for several weeks."
