A man who left a paramedic fearing for his life after a horror hammer attack has been jailed. James Chandler, 49, from St Pauls in Bristol, previously pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing and was sentenced yesterday to 16 months in prison. The incident took place on May 28, when an ambulance crew from the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) attended a property in Bristol to provide emergency care.
The court heard Chandler turned aggressive while two paramedics were responding to an emergency call to help him. A paramedic was targeted at close range with a claw hammer, which narrowly missed his head, the court heard. The ambulance crew then fled for their safety and activated an emergency alert, SWASFT said in a statement released following the sentencing. Following the attack, Avon and Somerset Police attended the scene and arrested the individual, who was later charged with assaulting an emergency worker and threatening with an offensive weapon, the statement also read.
During a court hearing on July 16 at Bristol Crown Court, Chandler was sentenced to 16 months in prison and will serve at least 40% of his sentence prior to potential release.
During the sentencing, judge Mr Justice Picton said: “Understandably, you caused your victim great fear. He thought he was at risk of losing his life.”
The attacked paramedic said in a statement released by the ambulance service: “Nobody should feel unsafe while carrying out their job, particularly when working in a caring profession. Sadly, we are often verbally abused, but thankfully physical abuse is less common, though it still happens.
“I hope this shocking footage and successful prosecution sends a clear message that violence and abuse towards emergency workers will not be tolerated. I would also like to thank my colleagues and Avon and Somerset Police for the support I have received since the incident.”
Mike Jones, Crime & Violence Reduction manager at SWASFT, said the service is “seeing, far too often, that healthcare workers are being exposed to extreme violence”.
He continued in the SWASFT statement: “This was an appalling and genuinely life-threatening attack on ambulance staff. The paramedic involved was deliberately targeted with a claw hammer at extremely close range which could very easily have resulted in a fatality.
“Our staff come to work to provide care and treatment to patients. They should be able to do so without fear of violence, abuse or intimidation. We are seeing, far too often, that healthcare workers are being exposed to extreme violence simply for doing their jobs. This cannot, and will not, be tolerated”.
The ambulance service said they continue to work closely with police and partner organisations across the South West to reduce violence and aggression towards healthcare staff and to protect and support those affected by such incidents.