A PARAMEDIC has shared a horrific story of abuse and assault in a bid to overturn a 'lenient sentence'.

West Midlands Ambulance Service is appealing the suspended sentence as part of a drive to protect its staff in the region.

Amy Holtom was shocked to find out that the male patient who broke her wrist had avoided prison.

Ms Holtom said: "I think this is appalling and shows how little the courts think of us.

"Anyone else would have been looking at time in jail, but yet again ambulance staff have been let down by the legal system."

Adam James was wearing steel-capped footwear when he kicked Ms Holtom and her colleague, who suffered cuts and bruising to his lower legs.

The ambulance crew was sent to help the man in Birmingham city centre after he was found unconscious.

He regained consciousness and started to swear at the paramedics when they carried out their clinical assessment.

While they were carrying out checks and tried to obtain intravenous access, James struck out at them with his feet.

Both of the crew members required hospital treatment and they were temporarily taken off operational duties.

West Midlands Ambulance Service trust chief executive Anthony Marsh said: “The sentence is extremely lenient given the traumatic injuries sustained and emotional upset experienced; I find it hugely frustrating that so many of my staff have been let down by the sentences given.

“There is no question in my mind that this warranted a custodial sentence. As well as the pain, suffering and emotional scarring of these staff, the public lost the services of two highly trained ambulance clinicians for a total of eight weeks.

"Those shifts had to be covered which meant overtime and additional cost to the NHS at a time when budgets are already stretched.

"The legal system is there to protect emergency workers who risk their lives for others and it is their expectation that the courts will ensure the full force of the law is applied in such cases."

Steve Elliker, the trust's head of security, said: "Whilst we welcome the new private members bill to provide emergency workers with enhanced protection, the Ministry of Justice has made it quite clear that there is no reason why the courts cannot hand down custodial sentences based on current legislation.

“It is never appropriate for staff to be abused verbally or physically. It is almost unbelievable that even this level of violence did not result in a custodial sentence.

"It is time that the courts handed down sentences that act as a deterrent against future assaults."

James was given a 14-month custodial sentence suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 150 hours of community work.

He was charged with actual bodily harm and common assault in relation to the incident on July 12, 2016.

The trust has written to the Attorney General asking for the sentence to be reviewed.