A MAN who threatened a paramedic who was trying to treat him and used threatening or abusive words and behaviour against two police officers in Alvechurch has avoided jail.
Dane John Whitmore, 31, of Dornie Drive, Kings Norton, had been drinking at the Red Lion in Alvechurch on January 8 when he was asked to leave.
Prosecutor Owen Beale said an hour later Whitmore was being treated by a paramedic but he became abusive, ‘squaring up to him’.
The intimidated paramedic had called police who found Whitmore under a motorway bridge and he was abusive to the officers, threatening to kill them.
In interview, Whitmore had admitted to being ‘extremely intoxicated’ and, the prosecution added, he had a history of violence.
Defending Julia Morgan put Whitmore’s actions down to being ‘in drink’, saying he had a dependency on alcohol and had been subject to a court order previously over his alcohol consumption.
She added he knew he should not be drinking alcohol with medication he was on for anxiety and depression, had sought help for his drinking from his GP and had been referred for treatment.
She said he was a completely different person when he was not under the influence of alcohol.
Magistrates gave him a 20-week sentence for each offence, which would run concurrently (20 weeks in total) and be suspended for 12 months.
Chair of the bench Roger Warrington warned him to stay out of trouble or face the consequences.
“If you offend again, these matters will be re-opened and you will be sentenced again,” he added.
Whitmore was also ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge and £135 prosecution costs.
