From spitting to scratching to sexual abuse: 600 West Midlands Ambulance crew attacked at work

During the 2012/13 financial year, 175 staff were physically assaulted on the job, jumping to 207 the following year, with 231 logging assaults during the 2014/15 year.

Just last week an advanced paramedic responding to a 999 call had fireworks thrown at his vehicle, meaning he was off the road and unable to do his job for an hour, and another ambulance crew had eggs thrown at them as four yobs attempted to get in to the cab of the vehicle in Birmingham.

Incidents like this can be terrifying for the staff involved and can result in serious injuries, as well as tying up vital emergency resources.

A list of physical attacks on staff provided by West Midlands Ambulance Service ranges from being spat on, grabbed, punched, scratched and kicked, to numerous accounts of inappropriate sexual contact and having items thrown at them, including shoes, medical equipment, and a house brick.

While many list the cause as mental health, clinical, or not known, the majority are attributed to the use of alcohol or drugs.

Steve Elliker, the trust's regional head of security and safety, said: "It is completely unacceptable that ambulance staff, who are responding to help people in their hour of need, should have to face violence, verbal or sexual abuse.

"The Trust has a zero tolerance policy in place and works extremely hard to bring the full weight of the law to bear on anyone who attacks our staff. It remains hugely disappointing that any of our staff should have to suffer from such abuse.

"Whilst attacks on ambulance staff are relatively rare, numbers are increasing and even one attack is one too many."

In August, a Wolverhampton man avoided a jail sentence after sexually assaulting a female paramedic who was trying to treat him.

Anthony Benbow, aged 52, rugby tackled the West Midlands Ambulance Service worker and groped her while he pinned her down on the floor of an ambulance, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

Benbow admitted sexual assault, and the court heard he had been horrified by his crime and felt 'very real remorse'.

During sentencing Judge Martin Walsh described the attack as grotesque, but said the public interest would be best served if Benbow was given a community order with treatment for alcoholism.

The attack had a psychological effect on the victim, and in a victim impact statement read out to the court, she said: "I go to work as a paramedic to help people, not to be attacked."