A Co Armagh man spat in the eye and mouth of a paramedic who was trying to save his life, a court was told.
Colin Barry McGeown (33), with an address at Charlestown Road near Derrytrasna, committed offences on August 3 last year.
He pleaded guilty to assaulting an ambulance worker and being disorderly at Craigavon Area Hospital.
The defendant had been found unresponsive at People’s Park in Portadown and was brought to hospital by ambulance.
In a resus area he regained consciousness and was aggressive. He lashed out at staff who were attempting to treat him.
Security staff were called to assist in restraining the defendant.
He spat in the face of a student paramedic with saliva entering the ambulance worker’s eye and mouth.
The defendant had a previous record.
A defence barrister said it was “one of the more upsetting” cases to be before the court.
The court was told that despite being spat upon the paramedic continued to give care.
The lawyer said the defendant had been brought to the hospital “in crisis”.
He said the defendant had no recollection of what happened and said he was “disgusted” after being told what happened.
The court was told the defendant had taken cocaine and alcohol and was rushed to hospital and the ambulance worker “was trying to safe his life”.
The barrister said it was “pretty impressive” that despite the “appalling” incident the ambulance worker continued to help McGeown.
Deputy District Judge Trevor Browne said it had been an “extremely disturbing” incident.
He said spitting “shows utter contempt” and it has been on a person who was going out of his way to assist the defendant and that was the “thanks he got” but he had continued to fulfil his duty.
The judge said an appropriate sentence had to be handed down to ensure that attracting recruits to essential roles in the health service is not “compromised” by such incidents.
The defendant was given a five months prison term.
