Sentence for Wolverhampton pensioner who attacked paramedics 'a wake-up call'
An ambulance boss has called a suspended prison sentence that was handed out to a pensioner who attacked paramedics who were trying to help him a 'stark wake-up call'.
Pensioner Edward Lynch, from Wolverhampton,
. He was branded 'a menace' by a judge who ordered him to pay a total of £450 to the injured staff. Steve Elliker, West Midlands Ambulance Service's head of safety, said the 74-year-old's actions were 'completely unacceptable.'
Wolverhampton Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday that Lynch has continued to make 999 calls despite receiving warning letters from ambulance chiefs. He pleaded guilty to attacks on three paramedics in January and February.
Mr Elliker said: "It is extremely disappointing that three staff members have suffered physical violence at the hands of Lynch. The trust welcomes this conviction as it is completely unacceptable that ambulance staff, who are responding to help people, should have to face violence and verbal abuse.
"This is a stark wake-up call to Lynch that if he ever carries out another assault that we hope he will be handed the toughest possible prison sentence."
He said the trust had a zero tolerance policy towards violence to its paramedics.
"It is simply not acceptable that staff who are there to help people, suffer at the hands of patients, their relatives or other people at the scene. Any type of assault against our staff will not be tolerated."
On the first occasion, Lynch assaulted paramedic Sean Fuller by grabbing his wrists and squeezing pressure points at his elbows, deliberately hurting him while abusing him to his face.
When Mr Fuller's colleague, Shelly Whitmore, stepped in to help him, Lynch punched her. In the February attack, he used a key to stab a female paramedic in the back of her hand after verbally abusing her. The court heard that Lynch was an alcoholic but District Judge Graham Wilkinson told him that was 'no excuse' for his actions.
Lynch was sentenced to a total of 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months on condition he attend a six-month alcohol treatment course. He was also ordered to pay £530, including £150 compensation to each of the three injured paramedics.
Prosecutor Mr Roger Bleazard said 'a huge amount' of public money was being wasted in answering the calls.
