A DRUNKEN yob who vandalised an ambulance as a toddler was being treated by paramedics has walked free from court.

Christian Tyldesley, 21, hurled stones at the bonnet, let down one of the tyres and spat on the windows, causing £300 of damage.

The ambulance was parked outside the home of Eddie Keane and his partner Rebecca Doughty in Halliwell, near Bolton, after their daughter Leah burnt her back on a radiator.

A paramedic was inside the house treating Leah, two, at the time.

He was forced to call police and a second ambulance took Leah to hospital.

Guilty

Tyldesley, of Weston Street, Bolton, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and magistrates in Bolton ordered him to do 220 hours unpaid community work.

Tyldesley, who had drank three litres of cider, blamed the ambulance service for allegedly failing to send an ambulance to his mother quickly enough before she died three weeks before the incident, the court heard.

He apologised for his actions in court, saying: "I just was not acting right. I really do not know how to explain it. I am disappointed in myself. Knowing that I have done something like this makes me sick."

But outside court Mr Keane, 30, blasted the sentence as unduly lenient. He said: "He came out of court laughing. I do not find it very funny and he is obviously not sorry. His actions could have put other lives at risk."

Samantha Cole, prosecuting, said Tyldesley was spotted throwing stones at the ambulance and letting down one of the front tyres.

Tyldesley then threw brick dust from a bag over its bonnet and spat against a window. Ms Cole said he later told police that he was so drunk he couldn't remember much about the incident.

She said: "He admitted causing the damage to the ambulance and accepted that letting the tyres down could have had very serious consequences for other members of the public."

The North West Ambulance Service said: "The trust welcomes today's sentencing, it sends out a clear message that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated.

Shocking

"It is shocking that anyone could vandalise an ambulance whilst the emergency crew is treating a sick patient.

"Mindless acts of vandalism like this can risk lives, taking a valuable lifesaving resource off the road whilst the vehicle is repaired.

"Those who purposely cause damage and disruption to a service which exists to save lives have to be held to account and NWAS will continue to work closely with police to push for the toughest penalties to be brought against perpetrators."