Drunken Tiverton teenager bit paramedic
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The charge of assault replaced an original charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, which was withdrawn by the prosecutors.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.”
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