Teen yob Jordan Hampson punched a policeman – breaking his nose –
before turning his rage on a hospital security guard.

James Gould, 63, attacked an ambulance technician who was trying to help him – battering him with his walking stick. Both attackers have now been locked up.

Hampson struck after a booze fuelled night in Blackpool.

The 19-year-old of Marsden Close, South Shore, admitted actual bodily harm on PC Matthew Walters and the assault of the security man when he appeared before Preston Crown Court.

The defendant was found bleeding from a head injury and had also lost a front tooth when PC Walters was called to the Funny Boyz takeaway, Dickson Road, on December 21.


Robert Smith, prosecuting, said Hampson was upset and drunk and the officer accompanied him to Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

The lout turned his rage on staff, swearing at a casualty sister. There was a struggle and Hampson punched PC Walters in the face.

A security guard who went to intervene was grabbed by the groin area for about 10 seconds. He later described the pain as "terrible" and punched Hampson to the right side of his face to make him release his grip.

Hampson later told police he could not remember anything about the incident. At the time, he had been on a suspended sentence for using racially threatening abuse.

Locking him up for 17 months, Judge Heather Lloyd told Hampson society needed to be protected and 999 crews needed protection from the courts.
She added: "They are trying to protect the innocent patients, doctors and nurses from behaviour like this.

"The police officer was trying to help you, to calm you down so you could get treatment. You assaulted him so that his nose was broken. There was persistent violence.

"The security guard was assaulted in a manner designed to cause him maximum pain and discomfort."

Peter Horgan, defending, said Hampson had been released from custody for an earlier incident in October.

The teenager had himself written a letter to the court stating his remorse over his actions.

A Blackpool Police spokesman said: "This was an unprovoked, malicious attack on a police officer who was providing assistance to someone.

"Assaults are not tolerated by the police and we will continue to thoroughly investigate such crimes in our attempts to bring offenders to justice."

Meanwhile, Gould, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of assault after he attacked an ambulance technician on February 4.

Police were called to Talbot Road, Blackpool, after Gould was seen smashing up a phonebox.

Violence flared after a two man ambulance crew was called to tend to Gould, who became aggressive when the technician attempted to monitor his pulse and breathing.

The attack, which left the technician with severe head and back pain, was witnessed by police.

Gould denied the charges at Preston Crown Court, but was found guilty and sentenced to four months behind bars.

North West Ambulance service were today pleased at the jail term.

Derek Cartwright, Director of Emergency Services for North West Ambulance Service, said: "There is an unacceptable level of violence directed towards ambulance staff and the Trust will not tolerate this abusive behaviour, whether physical or verbal.

"The Trust welcomes this sentence and hopes it sends out a very clear message to anyone who assaults our crews, either verbally or physically, that they will face the possibility of prosecution. "

Three years ago The Gazette launched its Respect campaign which highlighted the sickening level of attacks on the Fylde's emergency service personnel.

The locking up of Hampson and Gould are among the first sentences passed after the launch of North West Ambulance Service's own "Stop Abuse" campaign.

It was launched last year after the previous year saw 17 attacks reported on ambulance crews – nine physical assaults and eight cases of verbal abuse.

The campaign won support from pub landlords in Blackpool, who are issuing banning orders as punishment for people prosecuted for assaulting paramedics or NHS staff in their pubs.