A man has been found guilty of assaulting the emergency workers and has been sentenced to 20 weeks in prison.
Lance Morgan, 62, from Netherfield in Nottinghamshire pleaded guilty to four counts of Assault of an Emergency Worker at Nottingham Magistrates court on Thursday 28th January 2021.
On 1st February 2020, the ambulance crew were called to Morgan’s home address following a call stating he had taken an insulin overdose.
The crew, from East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS), carried out observations on Morgan and after they explained to him that there was no sign of an overdose, he became verbally abusive.
Morgan then began to assault EMAS Technician’s Paul Pointon and Michael Phipps, punching Michael in the groin and punching Paul in the abdomen.
Police were called to the scene and Morgan was restrained in handcuffs, however he managed to kick out at Paul, assaulting him once again. Morgan also shouted racial abuse towards officers on the scene.
Paul said:
“I’ve worked in the ambulance service for five and a half years and I love my job.
“We go out to try help people as much as possible and so it is incredibly upsetting and frustrating when some think they have the right to assault you when you are helping them in their time of need.
“Like everyone, we go to work expecting it to be a normal day but when faced with circumstances like this, it could potentially be life altering for us. You never know how far it will go. It doesn’t just affect us either, it has a lasting impact on everyone around us especially our families.”
Kelvin Langford, Violence Reduction and Prevention Lead, said:
“Assaults on our staff are absolutely unacceptable and we take a zero-tolerance approach towards anyone who verbally or physically assaults them.
“Our frontline colleagues, as well as our team in our 999-control room, are here to help people, not to be assaulted, and they deserve to be treated with respect.
“We will continue to support any of our colleagues who are assaulted on the frontline while trying to help others and to work with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to prosecute those who abuse our colleagues.”
Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cooper of Nottinghamshire Police said:
“Emergency workers are there to help people in what are likely to be their greatest hours of need.
“Our officers go out every day and put themselves at risk to keep the public safe from harm, but we must make it clear that we will not accept this treatment of our officers and staff. It is simply not part of the job and it shouldn’t happen.
“These officers and paramedics were simply trying to help Morgan after reports of an insulin overdose, which could have had quite significant consequences. For them to then be faced with getting kicked and have racial insults shouted at them is absolutely not acceptable.
“It is pleasing to hear of this sentencing and we hope it sends a clear message about the consequences of mistreating an emergency worker.”
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This scumbag is locked up, which is excellent. However, the reality is that he will be out in time to enjoy the summer, which is less good. What is interesting is the number of older people who end up attacking emergency workers. This would suggest a lifetime of delinquency and further reinforces my view that if they were stamped on very early on, they would either still be locked up or would have mended their ways because the consequences are too grim to continue down the slippery slope.
20 weeks for FOUR counts of assault should have 4 years or more, our justice system is pathetic.