'Disgusting' Warsop man jailed after spitting in face of ambulance technician

Dale Pickering, of Bishops Walk, Church Warsop, was jailed for 20 weeks after he admitted two counts of emergency worker assault and a further assault.

The ambulance was called to Wood Lane, Warsop, on Saturday, May 16, after a concerned member of the public spotted Pickering lying in the street.

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Pickering became aggressive when the ambulance arrived and spat towards the ambulance technician.

The two emergency workers took Pickering to his home address where he spat at another man and spat at the ambulance technician again, this time in her face. He also repeatedly pushed the paramedic.

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) technician Paula Page, who was responding with her paramedic husband Matthew from King's Mill Ambulance Station, said: “We asked the patient if he could stop spitting by explaining the seriousness of passing on COVID-19 but he wouldn’t stop.

“I felt angry and upset that someone could treat myself and my husband in such a vile manner when all we were trying to do was help someone who needed our assistance.

“We could not continue to respond to other patients who may have needed us while we were dealing with this patient’s violent behaviour and then because we needed to help the police with their enquiries.

“Part of our role involves seeing people who've consumed a lot of alcohol or taken illegal drugs and they don't always behave as themselves.”

Assistant Chief Constable Kate Meynell, of Nottinghamshire Police, said attacks on emergency services workers ‘will not be tolerated’.

She said: “This was disgusting behaviour and I have every sympathy for my fellow emergency workers who had to go through this ordeal.

“I know the anxiety this must have caused them and the other man involved.”

Pickering also pleaded guilty and was handed a further 20-week sentence, suspended for 18 months, in relation to two drink-driving offences and a further assault when he appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, May 26.