A MAN spat directly in the face of a paramedic who had come to save his life after he went into cardiac arrest, a court was told.
Paul Griffiths, of Heol Bathafarn in Coedpoeth, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon.
The 49-year-old admitted that on May 4 this year, he assaulted a paramedic named Stephen Rogerson.
Prosecutor Rhian Jackson told the court that on the day of the offence, paramedics were called out to Wrexham High Street as a male - the defendant - had gone into cardiac arrest.
He was non-responsive to stimuli, but CPR was carried out and the paramedics administered a drug akin to adrenaline.
In his statement afterwards, Mr Rogerson acknowledged that the drug can occasionally make people aggressive.
When the medics arrived back at Wrexham Maelor Hospital A&E with the defendant, Mr Rogerson's colleague went to check if there was room to bring the patient in.
Whilst that was happening, Griffiths came round, and after Mr Rogerson removed some of the equipment on him, the defendant spat directly in his face - and carried on trying to spit more.
He had to be restrained as he was "extremely aggressive."
In his statement, Mr Rogerson said he "signed up to save lives, not to be treated like this."
When Griffiths was interviewed, he told police he didn't remember spitting, but that it "probably happened."
His criminal record revealed 77 convictions for 200 previous offences.
Andrew Holliday, defending, told the court: "Mr Griffiths went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated.
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"He was given something akin to adrenaline which can make people aggressive and behave in such a way.
"Mr Griffiths has no recollection of the incident and he was mortified when it was explained to him that someone who attended to save his life was then subjected to being spat at."
Mr Holliday said his client could offer no explanation for his actions, save the medical aspect of the drug affecting his behaviour.
The Magistrates handed down a 10 week custodial sentence and ordered the defendant to pay £100 compensation.
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