Jail for man who hit paramedic and spat in ambulance

A Belfast man, who attacked two paramedics who took him to hospital, has been jailed for five months.

Andrew William Stewart hit one crew member in the face and kicked out at another and spat over their ambulance.

The 53-year-old, of Woodstock Road, pleaded guilty to two assaults on ambulance workers and a further charge of criminal damage to the vehicle.

The victims discovered him lying unresponsive at College Square in the city centre in September 2024.

He was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital.

He became violent as they arrived.

As one of the paramedics leaned over to check on Stewart, he hit him in the eye with his hand.

The victim was left in pain and with a mark on his face.

Stewart also kicked out at another paramedic when they stopped at the hospital's ambulance dock.

Although no contact was made, she feared that she was going to be subjected to a physical assault.

"He also spat several times in the back of the ambulance, which had to be deep cleaned as a result," a Crown lawyer added.

His defence lawyer said Stewart has no memory of the incident.

He told Belfast Magistrates' Court his client was knocked down in an RTC and then discharged from hospital before being found unconscious in the street.

"He is incredibly remorseful and ashamed of what he has done," the barrister said.

The judge told Stewart: "People are waiting hours for ambulances without people spitting all over them (and taking them out of circulation).

"It could have been a lot worse. I could have given you up to two years for the criminal damage and I was sorely tempted."