Drink and drug thug attacked paramedic and bit police officer
Emergency crews had gone to man’s house after he fell down stairs
A THUG who fell down the stairs after drinking vodka and taking cocaine dislocated a paramedic’s thumb before biting a police officer.
Connor McHale was tended to by two paramedics after he took a tumble.
The 20-year-old from Ashton-underLyne, squared up to one of the emergency workers and kicked him, dislocating his thumb, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
McHale then hit the paramedic’s shoulder, before spitting at his colleague.
He was taken to hospital, where he initially appeared calm.
McHale then spat at a police officer and bit his hand.
He has now been jailed for 23 months having pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm; and two offences of assaulting an emergency worker.
Outlining the facts of the case, prosecutor Andrew MacIntosh said that on May 10, two paramedics were called to a house on Mossley Road following reports McHale had fallen downstairs after drinking and taking cocaine.
“When they arrived they found the defendant sat on the bed with his support workers sitting next to him. He appeared calm,” Mr MacIntosh said.
“His support worker handed one of the paramedics a strip of co-codamol and said the defendant had been drinking and taking cocaine.
“The defendant then became agitated, stood up and squared up to him and demanded his medication back.
“The paramedic told him to calm down, but the defendant launched at him, grabbed his jacket and pulled him towards him.
“The paramedic managed to break free of the defendant, but he became aware that the defendant kicked out hitting his left thumb and forcing it back, causing it to dislocate.”
McHale then hit the paramedic’s left shoulder, causing the man to stumble backwards.
As the paramedic activated the emergency button on his radio, his colleague restrained McHale with the help of his support worker. Police attended to arrest McHale. Before officers left, he became unresponsive and was put in an ambulance.
“Once in the ambulance the defendant became aggressive with the officer, spitting at him and biting his left hand,” Mr MacIntosh said.
“He was then taken to hospital and given a sedative before he was discharged into police custody.”
The first paramedic suffered a fracture to his wrist and was off work for six weeks.
In a victim statement read in court, the first paramedic said: “I don’t expect to come to work to be assaulted.
“At the time of Covid-19, we are short staffed and I now can’t be there to do my bit.”
Defence lawyer Ian Ridgeway said McHale has a history of mental health problems, problems with alcohol and drugs and has been homeless.
McHale, of Mossley Road, was sentenced to 23 months detention in a young offender institution.
I don’t expect to come to work to be assaulted Paramedic who was assaulted by Connor McHale