Pensioner warned he could be jailed for threatening to kill paramedics and claiming he had coronavirus
A pensioner has been warned he could be jailed for trying to headbutt a paramedic in an ambulance, telling him he had coronavirus – and repeatedly faking a cough.
Boozy Alan Palin, 66, of Wilfrid Street, Boldon Colliery, also made threats to kill the emergency workers and smashed the vehicle’s radio.
His aggressive outburst came after he was found lying injured in King Street, South Shields, and during the journey to hospital on Saturday, July 11.
Palin’s antics, which led to his arrest en route, left a paramedic in immediate fear of his safety, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard.
Magistrates have now ordered an all-options report, and the findings could see Palin imprisoned, after they described the incident as “extremely serious”.
Prosecutor Kirstie Devine said: “An ambulance crew was dispatched to King Street after a report that the defendant was lying on the floor with a head injury.
“He was instantly abusive and aggressive. When they try to help him, he tells them to get off.
“The police are called. He apologised, but the vehicle then had to stop several times on its way.
“He made threats to kill them and says he has Covid and mocks coughing, and he does this several times.
“The police are called to re-attend. He tries to headbutt one of the paramedics, but misses.
“He also pulls at the microphone of the radio, which is on the wall in the ambulance, causing damage.”
She added: “The defendant was under the influence, and this was an emergency worker.
“He tried to headbutt the paramedic, although I accept that he didn’t make contact.
“This incident is aggravated by the fact that this was an emergency worker.”
In a victim personal statement, one of the paramedics said: “I was upset by the abuse from this male. I was just trying to do my job.”
Another paramedic said in his statement: “This incident made me feel sad and scared.
“I pressed the red emergency button, I thought he was going to fight me.”
Joanne Gatens, defending, said Palin’s actions were “the ramblings of a drunken man”.
She said: “He is very remorseful and ashamed of his behaviour on that day.
“He is very regretful about his actions. His words to me are that he was out of order.
“He’s single man who lives alone and he had not been out during Covid.
“He went to the pub. He hadn’t been drinking for some time. He hasn’t been in trouble since 2008.
“He’s very ashamed that it was emergency workers who were just doing their jobs.”
Mrs Gatens added: “There was no contact in terms of the headbutt, but I accept there was a lunge.
“I acknowledge that the emergency worker did feel threatened by that. He shouldn’t have behaved in that way.”
Palin pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker, threatening unlawful violence and causing criminal damage.
The case was adjourned for reports and he was granted unconditional bail to attend the same court for sentencing on Tuesday, September 29.