APPALLING
Judge blasts idiot who threw block of bricks through ambulance window and hit paramedic with a dog chain... but doesn’t jail him
A PARAMEDIC was subjected to a disgraceful attack by a dog chain-wielding thug who also left an ambulance out of commission by smashing its window with bricks.
When a crew of lifesavers were called to an address in Blyth, they were met with violence for no reason by despicable Luke Gallagher.
A court heard he armed himself with a dog chain, which he swung at someone and clipped one North East Ambulance Service paramedic with it, before punching the ambulance man in the face, taking him to the ground and ripping his shirt.
When the paramedic and his colleagues sought refuge in their ambulance, Gallagher picked up bricks and smashed a window of the vehicle, causing more than £1,000 of damage and injuring another member of the ambulance crew with the broken glass.
The 28-year-old lout then turned his violence on a police officer who turned up, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Gallagher pleaded guilty to three offences of assaulting an emergency worker, criminal damage and resisting arrest – but has been spared prison.
The court heard it was around 6pm on Saturday, July 11 this year that paramedics were called to Plessey Road, in Blyth, to a report of a possible overdose or seizure.
Two men and two women were present and appeared to have consumed alcohol or drugs.
As the crew spoke to the other man, Gallagher started shouting: “Don’t lie about what you have taken”.
Ashleigh Leach, prosecuting, said he then became aggressive and despite being told to calm down, he continued shouting.
He went to the kitchen and came back to the living room holding a dog chain, which he swung towards his girlfriend and clipped a paramedic on the elbow in the follow through.
Gallagher then punched the same paramedic to the eyebrow.
The crew pressed an emergency button and decided to retreat to the ambulance, at which point Gallagher grabbed the same victim’s shirt, tearing it.
He also pushed him against a table, causing him to fall to the ground.
As the victim was getting in the ambulance, Gallagher grabbed him and pulled him back again. The paramedic pushed him away, causing him to fall against a garden wall, which loosening some bricks.
Miss Leach said: “The defendant got up and began punching the ambulance windows with his fists.
“He picked up a loose brick and hit the window, causing it to break but not shatter, as it’s safety glass.
“The defendant then picked up a block of bricks and threw them through the window and glass fell over another crew member’s arm.”
The main victim suffered a cut to his eyebrow from the punch, tenderness to his elbow, a graze to his lower back and tenderness to his ribs.
He said: “I think it’s disgusting someone would assault an emergency service worker trying to do their job. In all the years I’ve been a paramedic I’ve never been subject to extreme violence towards myself or colleagues. I never expected this.”
Some £1,009 of damage was caused to the ambulance, which could not be used to help save lives for a time as a result of the attack. When police turned up, Gallagher turned his violence on them. Gallagher, of Blyth Street, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland, who has 20 previous convictions, was sentenced to eight months suspended for 18 months and must pay £1,000 compensation for the damage to the ambulance and £400 to the main victim.
Recorder Chris Smith told him: “It was an appalling piece of behaviour by you, you set about attacking those paramedics, with a weapon, at one stage.
“When they retreated to the ambulance, you turned your anger and aggression towards the vehicle. It sustained damage which took it off the road and out of service when it should have been helping people.
“I’ve got to send a message out that attacks on paramedics and police officers, particularly in the current public health crisis, will not be tolerated.”
The judge said it was an “extremely close call” as to whether he locked Gallagher up and said he suspended it because he is a carer for his brother, is remorseful and because of the pandemic.
Nigel Hedley, defending, said: “He appears here this morning extremely humble and very apologetic to the people he assaulted in the execution of his duties.”