The Daily Post
LIVERPOOL, England — A paramedic told a court yesterday how a drunken Welsh Assembly Member with a head injury punched him in the stomach after he came to his aid.
Mick Bates, 62, was strapped into a wheelchair inside an ambulanceready to be taken to a hospital accident and emergency unit for assessment when the alleged incident occurred.
The Montgomeryshire AM is said to have winded the paramedic with a powerful and unprovoked blow to the chest.
It came after paramedics said they were forced to carry him partially down a restaurant stairway “on his buttocks”, claiming he refusedto move.
The veteran Liberal Democrat politician is on trial at Cardiff Magistrates’Court accused of three counts of common assault “by beating"and public order breaches.
He denies all charges.
Mick Bates AM Police were called to Charlstons restaurant and bar in Caroline Street, Cardiff, south Wales, in the early hours of January 20, the court heard yesterday.
On arrival they were approached by Craig Williams, a friend of Bates, who claimed the AM had been injured after suffering an assault.
Police went inside and found a clearly drunken Bates lying semi-conscious on stairs, bleeding from a head wound.
Paramedic Carl Jones told the court Bates flailed his arms around and was aggressive.
He said Bates shouted several times “f***-off I am not going to hospital”.
It was decided to carry Bates to the ambulance in a wheelchair.
Mr Jones said he was then preparing to take Bates’ blood pressure when he felt a tug on his clothing and then a “sharp blow to my sternum,” he said.
“It came from the left hand of Mr Bates and his fist was closed. It was a heavy blow which did wind me.”
The trial continues.