Teen admits attacking paramedic

A TROUBLED teenager who took an overdose spat in a paramedic's face while he was trying to save his life.

Shane Boyes also tried to bite paramedic Graham Reece while he treated the 18-year-old in Downing Close. Boyes had taken 40 anti depressant tablets and a bottle of vodka.

Margaret Cutts, prosecuting at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court, said: "He was extremely abusive and threatening. He did not want to be treated and told Mr Reece to go away.

"Mr Reece got hold of the defendant's head as he was trying to self-harm by hitting his head against the wall."

She said Boyes, of Tower Mill Road, then tried to bite Mr Reece's thumb and spat in his face.

The court heard that Boyes' family had been involved in a "horrific" coach crash while on holiday in Turkey. His father had escaped injured from the wreckage and kept returning to the coach to drag out other bodies, dead and alive. When the family came home the traumatic experience remained with Mr Boyes senior and he turned to alcohol, the court heard.

Mrs Boyes repeatedly left the family home because the alcohol abuse had led to violence. Her son remained at home to deal with his father. Boyes took responsibility for his father and took him to St Clements Hospital to receive treatment.

The court heard that when Boyes realised his parents had separated permanently, he tried to take his own life. He woke up in hospital unable to remember any of the incident with Mr Reece, the court heard.

Mrs Cutts said Boyes pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Reece by beating on July 15. He had also, therefore, breached two conditional discharges for six and 12 months imposed in June for using threatening behaviour and possessing herbal cannabis in April when he was drunk.

The court heard that Boyes had shown remorse for his behaviour and had stopped abusing alcohol.

He was sentenced to a two-year community rehabilitation order, told to pay £100 compensation to Mr Reece and £20 towards court costs.