A DRUNKEN patient who thumped a paramedic while being taken to hospital has been jailed for four months.

Colin Booth, 39, attacked Gareth Smith after trying three times to jump out of a moving ambulance.

Mr Smith, 44, was forced to stop the ambulance and flagged down a passing police car. Booth then made the rest of the journey to Manchester Royal Infirmary in handcuffs.

District judge Alan Berg told Booth: "I will do everything in my power to protect vulnerable victims - particularly those in public service.

"What you did to this paramedic was appalling. He was trying to help you and you repaid him by hitting him in the face."

Booth, of Gorton Lane, Gorton, admitted assaulting Mr Smith but claimed the blow was an accident.

At a previous hearing a judge rejected his 'basis of plea' and said he had deliberately punched Mr Smith.

Paramedics were called to Booth's home after reports that he had self harmed one night last April. Booth was found to have a minor cut to his left wrist and got into the ambulance without any bother.

Despite having drunk eight cans of lager he was initially so placid the paramedics told police they didn't need an escort.

But on the way to hospital he turned violent.

At an earlier hearing Rebecca Cook, defending, said Booth had been in an emotional state after trying to kill himself.

Booth was given three months for the attack and an extra month in prison for failing to answer his bail.

After the earlier hearing Mr Smith, from Crumpsall, said: "Unfortunately, these days it's increasingly common to get punched, kicked and spat at."

The Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act, to protect 999 crews from thugs, was introduced in February last year in the wake of the M.E.N's Protect Our Heroes campaign.


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