Ambulance service worker speaks out after being headbutted by patient he was trying to help

Ambulance technician Robert Burness was left with a bloodied nose after being attacked in West Bromwich while on duty.

Donald Hornby was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison after he assaulted the West Midlands Ambulance Service worker.

Hornby, 25, from Birmingham, appeared at Dudley magistrates court last Thursday – two days after the attack – and was ordered to pay £265 on top of his sentence after pleading guilty to assault.

• MORE: Ambulance service condemn attack on worker

Mr Burness, a retired firefighter from Great Barr, who is based in West Bromwich, had been called to Moor Street, in the Lyng area of the town, shortly before 8pm on Tuesday, January 3.

He arrived to find Hornby unconscious and began to treat him but as he came back around he became aggressive and butted Mr Burness, leaving him with facial injuries.

The ambulance service said it was 'disappointed' Hornby did not receive a longer sentence, adding it was 'extremely disappointing' that its staff suffer abuse from members of the public.

Mr Burness, 59, who has been a paramedic for nine years, said: "When we arrived at the tower block we found a 20-something-year-old slumped on the stairwell.

"We were doing our assessments and he started to come back around making all sort of rubbish and nonsense comments. He then threw a beer can at my student paramedic colleague and squared up to her. I stepped in between the both of them and that is when he head-butted me and I fell backwards. The blood was pouring out of me."

A second ambulance crew had to come out and assess Mr Burness before taking him to Sandwell General Hospital. He added: "This is our busiest time and it meant two vehicles were off the road for awhile because of an idiot."

Steve Elliker, the ambulance service's regional head of security and safety, said: "It is completely unacceptable that ambulance staff, who are responding to help people who have serious medical conditions or injuries, should have to face violence

Any type of assault against our staff will not be tolerated."

A picture of Mr Burness and his injuries was posted online after the incident by Ade Caulwell.