A PERTH man who pushed a paramedic while he was attending to an elderly woman was yesterday sent to prison for three months at Perth Sheriff Court.

Philip Kenny (54), c/o CATH, York Place, Perth, admitted that on September 29 at South Street, Perth, he assaulted, obstructed or hindered a Scottish Ambul- ance Service worker, then responding to emergency circumstances when a female had collapsed there, by grabbing hold of the man’s arm, pushing him and swearing at him—all contrary to the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005.

Depute fiscal Janine Bates told the court that the paramedics received a call from their control room at 4.39pm on the day in quest- ion informing them that an elderly lady had collapsed beside a bus stop outside the Scaramouche pub in South Street, Perth.

When the men arrived they found a small crowd surrounding the woman, so asked people to stand back.

“All the members of the public responded except the accused, who had been waving his arms about,” Miss Bates said.

“The accused then grabbed hold of one of the paramedics by the elbow and pushed him towards the female who he was attending, saying to him, ‘Get on with your job,’ before releasing his grip on him.”

This upset the elderly lady and as a result police were contacted.

Kenny’s solicitor Linda Clarke said her client had a history of alcohol abuse and had drunk a small bottle of cider that day.

“He saw the elderly woman lying on the ground and was concerned for her welfare,” she said. “He felt the paramedics were not taking immediate action to take her off the ground.”

In sentencing Kenny, Sheriff Robert McCreadie told him, “What knowledge did you have to get involved in this incident with experienced paramedics in a situation that could be a case of life or death?

“A custodial sentence is required to bring it home to you just what you have done.

“Every member of the public has to keep back in these situations and let the emergency staff do their job but you went one step too far.”