A 'SUICIDAL' man assaulted a police officer and made threats in front of paramedics as he struggled to cope with his father's terminal cancer diagnosis.

Christopher Stych, aged 49, of Bridge Street, Worcester, admitted using threatening and abusive language (section four public order) and assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duties when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Stych had called paramedics himself to ask for help but they had requested police attend while he was treated during the incident on July 18, into July 19.

Roger Bleazard, prosecuting, said: “The defendant has some issues because he called an ambulance, saying he was feeling suicidal. The ambulance arrived and staff called police because Mr Stych was saying he wanted to punch someone.”

Officers attended Stych's flat which was described as 'untidy', containing bottles of alcohol and piles of rubbish and clothes. Stych also had a cut to his head which was bleeding and he agreed to leave his flat and go with the ambulance staff.

Mr Bleazard said: “Officers were present which seemed to aggravate the situation. He repeatedly left the ambulance, becoming aggressive and lunging and clenching his fists.

"He became more aggressive, hit an officer and challenged him to a fight. Mr Stych went to walk away from the ambulance saying he wanted to further harm himself. Officers were concerned for his welfare.”

The defendant was taken to the floor and an officer’s radio became detached from his stab vest. In interview Stych said his recollection of what happened was a bit ‘hazy’ but he ‘accepted wrongdoing’.

Chris Hilton, defending, said Stych had entered a guilty plea at the earliest available opportunity and asked that he be given maximum credit.

He added: “He seems to recollect there was a push by him to the chest which led to him being taken to the ground. Mr Stych is alcohol dependent.

"On this particular day he had received a telephone call from his sister who informed him that their father, who lives locally in Fernhill Heath, had been told by those treating him for cancer that the cancer had spread to his bones and become terminal and inoperable.

“That had been a cause of significant distress to Mr Stych. His mother had died a couple of years ago, also from cancer. He has been someone who has self-harmed.”

Before the incident he had called mental health services and the Samaritans but felt he was asked questions that were not relevant.

Mr Hilton said: “He wanted someone to talk to.” Mr Hilton said the presence of the police had been ‘a red rag to a bull and simply inflamed the position in Mr Stych’s own mind’. He said Stych did not understand why police had become involved and wanted to get back to his flat.

He added: “He accepts his language may have been threatening in nature. It was totally unacceptable behaviour which he recognises.”

Magistrates gave him a conditional discharge for 18 months and ordered him to pay a contribution towards costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £20 which will be attached to his benefits.