An Ipswich drug addict who assaulted a paramedic with a tin of tuna and damaged an ambulance after falling off her bike must pay compensation.

The paramedic and his colleague had to lock themselves in their vehicle after Melissa Boast lost her temper when she was refused her methadone prescription due to a head injury.

Boast, of Black Horse Lane, pleaded guilty when she appeared at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court to criminal damage and assault.

The 35-year-old committed the offences on August 3 last year.

Prosecutor David Bryant said an ambulance crew was sent to an accident in the area of the Spread Eagle pub in Eagle Street after Boast had fallen off her bicycle.

When they arrived a police officer was already there.

However, Boast refused help until she was able to go to a chemist to get her heroin substitute.

She was taken to a clinic in Berners Street, but became angry after she was refused her prescription due to a head injury she sustained when coming off her bike.

Boast became angry and threw a can of tuna at paramedic Karl Tovell, hitting him on the leg.

Mr Tovell and his male colleague got into their ambulance and locked themselves in.

Boast then damaged one of the wing mirrors by punching and pulling it.

The court heard in her police interview she said she could remember leaving a graveyard on her bike to go to get methadone.

She then vaguely recalled lying in the road with members of the public around her.

Boast also had a recollection of being at the chemist at the back of St Matthew’s Street and said she had the tuna can as part of the food she was given by the health outreach project.

She did not remember committing the offences but could not say she did not due it.

Mr Bryant said Boast also had alcohol problems and consumes strong lager every day.

Although Boast was said to be heavily convicted, she told police she had grown up now.

Asked by District Judge David Noble if she had anything to say Boast, representing herself, replied: “I’m sorry for my behaviour.”

She was ordered to pay £200 compensation for the criminal damage to the ambulance and £50 compensation to Mr Tovell.