A man kicked a paramedic in the head as he tried to give the son's father medical treatment. Photo / 123rf
A man kicked a paramedic in the head as he tried to give the son's father medical treatment. Photo / 123rf
A man kicked a paramedic in the head as he tried to give the son's father medical treatment.
Last year on December 21, Manchester man Thomas Duffy had called the ambulance after his father collapsed in the street.
But when paramedic Ian Shortman arrived on the scene and began tohelp, Duffy suddenly turned on him and began to shout and swear, saying his father didn't need help.
The court was could Duffy and his father had been out drinking all day when they were kicked out of a pub for being too drunk.
Shortman came to the father's aid after he collapsed, telling him he needed to go to hospital.
The prosecution told Manchester Magistrates Court: "The defendant took a run up and then rugby kicked [Mr Shortman] with his right foot to the left side of his head and ear, causing him to fall on the floor and be stunned for around two to three seconds.
"When he came to, the male had been detained by security staff.'"
Paramedic Shortman was then taken to hospital to be checked over before being discharged with minor injuries.
Duffy was arrested at the scene.
He was later charged with assaulting an emergency worker and pleaded guilty this week.
In a victim impact statement, Shortman said: "I do this job to help people and I find it disturbing that someone would do this to me.
"He called for us to attend and see his father, I can't believe this person kicked me to the head, it could have caused an end to my career, massive consequences and even an end to my life.
"This is the most life threatening situation I have been involved in my 20 years in my career as a paramedic."
Duffy made a full confession, saying he had eight or nine pints. He said he remembered an argument with a paramedic and believes he lashed out because he was "overly protective".
