BYKER, England — A patient who vandalized a UK ambulance, causing more than $10,000 of damages, was sentenced to 18 weeks of imprisonment.
Zoe Wheeler, 30, became violent when two paramedics arrived to assist her, and started attacking the ambulance.
Wheeler ripped equipment away from the ambulance walls, scrawled graffiti on cupboards and discharged the vehicle’s fire extinguisher.
The incident caused the EMS crew to be off the road for several hours and the ambulance off the road for 17 days.
Wheeler pleaded guilty to criminal damage and assaulting a police officer.
In addition to 18 weeks in jail, Wheeler was ordered to pay about $700 to North East Ambulance Service, the EMS organization operating the ambulance she damaged.
“We have a workforce of people who have dedicated themselves to saving and protecting the lives of people in our community and it is not acceptable that they have to experience any kind of abuse whilst at work,” said David Edwards, risk and claims manager at North East Ambulance Service. “We are pleased to see incidents such as these are taken seriously and that appropriate sentencing has been awarded.”