A Belfast man who attacked two paramedics after they rushed him to hospital has been jailed for five months.
Andrew William Stewart struck one crew member in the face and kicked out at his female colleague before spitting all over their ambulance.
The 53-year-old, of Woodstock Road, pleaded guilty to two assaults on ambulance workers and a further charge of criminal damage to the vehicle.
Belfast Magistrates Court heard the victims discovered him lying unresponsive at College Square in the city centre on September 19 last year.
He was taken for medical treatment but became violent as they arrived at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
As one of the paramedics leaned over to check on Stewart he lashed out, striking him in the eye with his hand.
Prosecutors said the victim was left in pain and with a mark on his face.
Stewart also kicked out at another paramedic when they stopped at the hospital’s ambulance dock.
Although no contact was made, she feared that she was going to be subjected to a physical assault.
“He also spat several times in the back of the ambulance, which had to be deep cleaned as a result,” a Crown lawyer added.
Defence counsel Damien Halleron said Stewart has no memory of the incident.
He told the court his client was knocked down in a road accident and then discharged from hospital before being found unconscious in the street.
“He is incredibly remorseful and ashamed of what he has done,” the barrister submitted.
Mr Halleron set out how Stewart has recently secured a home following a long-term addiction to alcohol and drugs.
But District Judge Anne Marshall insisted the defendant will only have himself to blame if he loses that accommodation.
Imposing five months’ custody, she told Stewart: “People are waiting hours for ambulances without people spitting all over them (and taking them out of circulation).
“It could have been a lot worse, I could have given you up to two years for the criminal damage and I was sorely tempted.”