Man who attacked an ambulance crew in Blyth avoids jail and must pay £1,400 in compensation

The incident took place on Monday, July 13 when paramedics from the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) attended an address in Blyth after receiving reports of a drug overdose.

While they worked to treat a patient, 28-year-old Gallagher became aggressive and abusive towards the medical team.

When asked to calm down by student paramedic Andrew Raisbeck, Gallagher punched him and knocked him to the floor causing injuries to his eyebrow, back and ribs – Mr Raisbeck later required hospital treatment.

Northumbria Police were called to the scene when Gallagher cracked the glass of the ambulance with a brick after paramedics sought shelter while trying to work on the patient.

Gallagher then picked up a pillar from a nearby broken wall and threw it at the cracked glass, causing it to shatter and injuring clinical care assistant Chris Bradley in the process.

As a result of the incident, the brand-new ambulance was taken off the road due to the damage caused.

Gallagher, of Blyth Street, Seaton Deleval pleaded guilty to four charges of assault of an emergency worker, common assault, criminal damage and resisting a police officer in execution of their duty.

During sentencing at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday, August 10, the judge said that Gallagher’s behaviour had been “appalling” and despite the crime warranting a custodial sentence, mitigating circumstances meant he escaped prison.

Gallagher received a eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

He was also ordered to pay £400 compensation to the student paramedic and £1,000 compensation to NEAS for the damage caused to the vehicle, as well as having to undertake 200 hours unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation days.

The sentencing comes days after NEAS called on the court system to impose the full powers available to them when it comes to sentencing defendants who have assaulted its staff.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

If you can, please do pick up a copy when you are at the shops. Thank you for your support.