BEING abused as a child was the reason why a 32-year-old Ipswich man snapped and attacked a paramedic and police officer, a court heard.Shane Gull, of London Road, carried out the attack because he was abused as a child and made to work as a rent boy as a young adult, his solicitor said.

BEING abused as a child was the reason why a 32-year-old Ipswich man snapped and attacked a paramedic and police officer, a court heard.

Shane Gull, of London Road, carried out the attack because he was abused as a child and made to work as a rent boy as a young adult, his solicitor said.

On April 8 this year paramedics were called to Norwich Road in Ipswich to attend to Shane Gull.

However Gull attacked the paramedic and was arrested.

He then went on to attack the custody officer who attempted to put him in a cell at Ipswich Police Station.

Gull shouted obscenities at the officer and spat in his face as he did this.

When he was finally put into the cell he flew into a fit of rage and damaged its contents.

The former Westbourne High School pupil pleaded guilty to two charges of assault and one of criminal damage at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court on April 24.

Dino Baracello, mitigating, said: “He was sexually assaulted as a child and made to work as a rent boy when he got older. He has had to come to terms with his own sexuality, which for him has been very embarrassing. It wasn't until he was 32 within the last few weeks that he started committing crime despite having a very difficult background. He hasn't committed crime out of malice. These are difficulties escalating in to him not being able to cope and lashing out.”

Gull was sentenced to 17 weeks in prison.