Drunk who abused paramedic 'had drink spiked' (From Surrey Comet)

Drunk who abused paramedic in Morden 'had drink spiked'

8:43am Thursday 9th February 2012 in Wimbledon By Omar Oakes

A man who claimed he was plied with alcohol and robbed has admitted to launching a tirade of abuse against the paramedic who came to his aid.

Christopher Tormey, 27, was found passed out drunk outside Morden station on November 5, 2011, where he appeared to have been assaulted and had a cut to his face, Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court was told.

When emergency medical technician Stephen Say began to treat him, Tormey began throwing punches at him and shouted “What you ******* doing, bruv?”

Mr Say, who was worked for the ambulance service for 20 years, decided to take the man home to nearby St Helier Avenue and asked the police to follow the ambulance.

He said: “I thought he looked like he was about to walk out into a busy main road so I put my arm out to stop him.

“That’s when he just went for me.

“He was throwing punches, shouting and threatening to stab me.

“Luckily the police were there and they were on him in a shot.

"It could have been a lot worse.”

Tormey insisted his drink had been spiked and that after leaving a nearby pub, he had been robbed and assaulted.

The London Ambulance Service revealed that, on average, one member of staff was physically assaulted every day in the capital last year.

Ambulance operations manager Bill Arkell said abuse against staff was becoming a “regular part of the job”.

He said: “This case demonstrates abuse towards our staff will not be tolerated.

“Ambulance workers like Stephen should be able to treat patients in their community without fear of being attacked.”

Tormey was given a six-month community order and ordered to pay a £50 fine.

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