A shocking video shows the moment that a woman knocked a paramedic unconscious.
Vanessa Blakely broke Nick Brown's eye socket in the attack and also broke the ribs of a student paramedic named Callum. Both had been responding to a 999 call to help Blakely on March 29, 2022.
Blakely, 25, pleaded guilty to assault by beating of an emergency worker and inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent, but has avoided jail following a sentencing hearing.
Body-cam footage shared by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) shows Blakely sitting on the floor, saying to the paramedics: "Who even are you? You think you're something special.
"Get out of my f***ing face because I swear to God, I will knock you the f*** out." One of the paramedics tells Blakely that she is being recorded and that he will report her to the police for threatening him and using bad language.
She then replied: "It's a threat, not a promise. Do you want me to make a promise because I happily will," before swinging a punch towards one of the paramedics.
A dog walker intervened and Blakely repeatedly screamed: "Get the f*** off me," as he tried to pull her away from the paramedic. The footage then cuts to the following minute and shows Blakely approaching Mr Brown and punching him in the face.
As a result of the assault, his head hit the front of the rapid response vehicle, knocking him out. He was taken to hospital, where it was discovered he had a broken eye socket, SWASFT said.
At Swindon Magistrates' Court, Blakely, of Swindon, Wiltshire, was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years. She was also ordered to pay compensation to the value of £100 and given a rehabilitation activity requirement.
In a statement released through SWASFT, Mr Brown said: “When I woke up on the floor, I couldn’t quite believe what had happened. Nobody should be frightened to do their job, especially in a caring profession.
"Anyone that assaults an emergency worker should be ashamed of themselves. Sadly, we are often verbally abused, but thankfully physical abuse is less common, though it still happens. Body-worn cameras go a long way to reduce that risk.
“I hope this shocking footage and successful prosecution sends out a strong message that any assault, physical or verbal, will not be tolerated. I'd like to recognise the support I have received from SWASFT, the police and the care I received at the Great Western Hospital in the days following the assault.
“I would also like to praise the actions of Callum. His rapid intervention and calm decision making, despite being injured himself, minimised the harm done.”
Mike Pavey, crime and violence reduction officer at SWASFT, added: “What happened to Nick and Callum is shocking and completely unacceptable. This was a vicious, unprovoked attack on a crew that was trying to help someone.
“The role of our people is tough - physically, mentally and emotionally - without the patients we are trying to help assaulting us. Please help us to help you, and treat us with the dignity and respect we deserve.”
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