The often daily violence faced by NSW Ambulance Paramedics has been demonstrated in Nowra Local Court, after an ice-affected Dubbo man pleaded guilty to assaulting two Nowra-based paramedics on Saturday night.
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Wayne Victor Craig, 36, also pleaded guilty two counts of intimidation.
Court papers revealed Craig hit a 48-year-old Nowra paramedic with a defibrillator while being treated in the back of ambulance on the way to Shoalhaven District Hospital late on April 6.
He also grabbed a pair of trauma scissors and threatened to kill the paramedic and his partner before being subdued.
Around 11.35pm police were called to a home in Queenborough Street, Nowra with reports a male "likely affected by ice" was suffering a medical episode.
Officers met two paramedics in nearby Stuart Street before continuing to the man's property.
Court papers said Craig answered the door saying he was having chest pains and needed to go to hospital.
Police said at this stage Craig wasn't aggressive but was "clearly agitated" about wanting to attend hospital and be assessed.
He admitted he had taken ice or methylamphetamine the day before and said he had "tightness in the chest".
Craig agreed to accompany the paramedics to hospital but a short distance away in Kalandar Street, things suddenly changed.
Court papers said Craig became verbally abusive towards the paramedics and asked for the ambulance to be stopped and to be "let out".
He then demanded to be "taken to hospital".
Court papers said at this point he removed the seat restraint on the resuscitation seat he was sitting on and stood up in the back of the ambulance.
The 43-year-old paramedic who was driving the ambulance stopped the vehicle and called for urgent assistance.
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As he was going to the aid of his colleague, he saw Craig unstrap the defibrillator unit from behind the front passenger's seat, and raise it up as if he was going to throw it at his treating paramedic.
Court papers said the paramedic managed to grab a pillow off the stretcher and place it in front of his face in an attempt to absorb the impact before Craig hit him in the face and upper body with the unit.
Craig then lashed out with punches and kicks at both paramedics before grabbing a pair of trauma scissors and threatening to kill the paramedics.
A wrestle on the floor of the ambulance ensued and the scissors were prised from his hand and Craig was restrained until police arrived.
He was then handcuffed and taken to Shoalhaven Hospital under police escort.
In Nowra Local Court on Tuesday (April 9) Craig pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of intimidation.
Bail was not applied for and was formally refused by Magistrate Gabriel Fleming.
Court papers revealed Craig was already on bail at the time, facing two counts of being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, two counts of intimidation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, damaging property, common assault and remaining on enclosed lands following alleged incidents in Dubbo on December 17 last year.
It is was alleged Craig was armed with a short stick with a sharpened end and a 1.5 metre piece of timber, which he used to intimidate and injure two men.
He was also charged with damaging a cell at the Dubbo police station.
All these matters will be dealt with in Dubbo Court on August 5.
