A man has been sentenced to 12 weeks in prison for assaulting a member of ambulance staff in West Bromwich.

After pleading guilty to assault by beating, Donald Hornby, 25, from Birmingham, was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison on Thursday, 5^th January and ordered to pay £265 in fines.

The incident took place when West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Moor Street in West Bromwich on the evening of Wednesday, January 3^rd. Mr Hornby was initially unconscious at the time of the call but after coming round he became aggressive, leaving Robert Burness, a technician, with a blooded face. Speaking about the incident, WMAS General Manager for Birmingham, Nathan Hudson, said:

“We welcome the fact that a custodial sentence has been issued in this case but are disappointed it is not longer. Is 12 weeks enough for a serious assault on a member of ambulance staff who had been called to try and help the defendant?

“It is extremely disappointing that our staff suffer physical and verbal abuse when all they are trying to do is help members of the public with medical emergencies.”

Steve Elliker, West Midlands Ambulance Service’s Regional Head of Security and Safety said: “It is completely unacceptable that ambulance staff, who are responding to help people who have serious medical conditions or injuries, should have to face violence and verbal abuse.

“The Trust has a zero tolerance policy in place and works extremely hard to bring the full weight of the law to bear on anyone who attacks our staff.  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.”