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Woman pleads guilty after Tunstall ambulance abuse note | Woman pleads guilty after Tunstall ambulance abuse note |
(35 minutes later) | |
A 26-year-old woman who verbally abused paramedics and left a foul-mouthed note on their ambulance in Stoke-on-Trent has admitted a public order offence. | |
Kirsty Sharman, of Parsonage Street, also accepted writing the handwritten message, which said she did not care "if the whole street collasped [sic]" . | |
Paramedics were dealing with a 999 call in her street in Tunstall on Sunday. | |
At North Staffordshire Justice Centre, chairman of the magistrate said it was an "absolutely despicable incident". | |
'Behaviour not tolerated' | |
The ambulance had been responding to a next door neighbour's emergency call to help his wife, who was "experiencing breathing difficulties", prosecutor Liz Ryder told magistrates. | |
She said there had been "ongoing difficulties" between Sharman and her neighbours, leading to a restraining order being issued against her in January. | |
Miss Ryder said: "A neighbour saw that note being deposited by the defendant and they took it from the rear windscreen and posted it back through the defendant's address, having torn it apart." | |
During the incident, Sharman also went into the street and swore at a paramedic, telling him to move the ambulance. | |
Sentencing, the chairman of the magistrates Christopher Rushton told her: "This was an absolutely despicable incident. | |
"The fact it was directed at an ambulance crew providing a public service to a sick person. That crew should not be subject to actions such as these." | |
Through her solicitor, Hayley Keegan, Sharman offered her "most sincere apologies to the ambulance staff". | Through her solicitor, Hayley Keegan, Sharman offered her "most sincere apologies to the ambulance staff". |
She was arrested after a social media plea by West Midlands Ambulance Service staff who reported colleagues had the note put on the back windscreen of a vehicle. | She was arrested after a social media plea by West Midlands Ambulance Service staff who reported colleagues had the note put on the back windscreen of a vehicle. |
Ch Insp John Owen said it was "really important" public servants who are there to serve and help the community "feel safe in their day to day duties". | Ch Insp John Owen said it was "really important" public servants who are there to serve and help the community "feel safe in their day to day duties". |
He said: "This type of behaviour cannot be tolerated, and I know my view is supported by 99% of our community." | |
The court fined Sharman £120 and she was ordered to pay £135 costs and a £30 victim surcharge, police said. | The court fined Sharman £120 and she was ordered to pay £135 costs and a £30 victim surcharge, police said. |