THE ambulance service has  condemned a binge-drinking  teenager who bit a paramedic  trying to help her.

Roxanne Jennings admitted  assaulting paramedic Abigail  Knill by biting her arm and  drawing blood after a binge-  drinking session in a pub.

The 19-year-old became aggressive and lashed out at police officers and the paramedic  after they were called to her  flat.

Exeter Magistrates’ Court  was told that at the time of the  offence last month  Jennings  was drinking a dozen cans of  lager a day.

Prosecutor Karen Ball told  the court: “This is an assault  on a public servant doing her  job and attempting to assist the  police officers and Miss Jennings.”

She said police forced their  way into Jennings’ flat shortly  after 6.15pm on Tuesday, October 26, after members of the  public had reported that she  was seen in a distressed state  in the street.

Outside the flat, police had  heard sounds of vomiting and  things being broken. Inside  they found Jennings collapsed  on a bed. They called an ambulance and paramedic Ms  Knill arrived.

Jennings came around and  was aggressive and abusive to  police officers. She was told by  the paramedic that she did not  have to go to hospital, but that  a relative should be called to   look after her. She refused any  help and became violent towards the police.

As the officers restrained  Jennings, Ms Knill attempted  to help but was then bitten on  her left arm.

Mrs Ball told the court: “It  was a deep, bloody bite to the  forearm.

“Ms Knill was left with two  puncture wounds where Jennings’ teeth went through the  skin.”

Jennings was arrested by  police but said she had no  recollection of the incident.

She said she had been to a  pub and become very drunk   on vodka.

The court was told Jennings  has a previous conviction for  assault for which she received  a reprimand.

The charge of assault replaced an original charge of  assault occasioning actual  bodily harm, which was withdrawn by the prosecutors.

In mitigation for Jennings,  of Carpenter Close, Tiverton,  Jeremy Asher told the court  she had been out drinking  with her family because of the  anniversary of her brother’s  death.

 “She had too much to drink  and doesn’t remember anything else,” he said.

The court was told in a report by the probation service  that Jennings was deeply  ashamed of what happened  and had tried to apologise to  the paramedic.

The court was told: “Since  this offence she has not  touched any alcohol.

“She says she was drinking  around 12 cans of lager a day at  this time.”

He said Jennings, who lost  her job as a trainee hairdresser after an argument with her  employer, did not want help  with her alcohol consumption.

Magistrates told Jennings  they were considering sending  her to prison, but decided to  sentence her to 200 hours of  unpaid work in the community.

“This was a very serious  offence,” Jennings was told.   “This is a public servant, a  paramedic doing her job, trying to help you and you bit her.  This was not an isolated offence, you have been binge  drinking for quite a while it  seems. If you continue this  binge drinking and end up in  court again, they will not be so  lenient.”

Jennings was ordered to pay  £50 compensation to Ms  Knill.

After the hearing, Ken Wenman, chief executive for South  Western Ambulance Service,  said: “The trust adopts a zero-  tolerance stance in dealing  with assault or abuse aimed at  its staff. We will support the  police in prosecuting wherever appropriate, as this case  highlights.

 “Our staff play a vital role in  serving their local communities and deserve to be treated  with the utmost respect and  dignity at all times.”