Evening Star
IPSWICH, England — Ambulance staff today applauded a court’s decision to lock up a woman with hepatitis C after she spat blood at a paramedic and cut his arm.
Freya Magowan, formerly of Turret Lane, Ipswich, is serving a 24-week jail term after admitting two counts of common assault against ambulance staff and two further charges of assaulting police constables.
Following Magowan’s sentencing, Jason Gillingham, assistant general manager for the East of England Ambulance Service Trust in East Suffolk, said: “Any kind of assault against our staff is completely unacceptable and the trust welcomes this conviction.
“We take such incidents extremely seriously. Our crews are there to do an often difficult job and have the right to carry out their duties without fearing for their safety.
“We encourage staff to report any abuse. We always pursue cases where appropriate with the police and Crown Prosecution Service and will support staff in pursuing a criminal conviction wherever possible.”
The incident occurred after paramedics were called to attend to Magowan in Carr Street, Ipswich just before 6.55pm on June 14.
The 36-year-old, who was drunk and complaining about pain in her ribs, was put into an ambulance to be taken to Ipswich Hospital.
Initial reports to the police stated although incoherent, Magowan appeared calm at first. However, she became verbally abusive inside the vehicle and started thrashing around.
As the ambulance headed along Woodbridge Road, Magowan struggled with a male paramedic and scratched him on the inside of the left arm. She also spat blood at him. His female colleague was also assaulted.
The ambulance crew alerted police but when a male officer tried to restrain Magowan, she was said to have spat in his face and on to his arm.
While Magowan was kicking out and screaming obscenities a female officer sustained bruising on the inside of her left leg and was also said to have been spat at.
Magowan was eventually subdued and taken into custody.
She admitted the four assaults when she appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court in Ipswich.
It is understood the paramedic who sustained the cut required antiviral treatment due to Magowan having hepatitis C.
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