A grieving woman punched a paramedic on her way to hospital in an ambulance after she was found in a drunken state in the snow, a court heard.
Patricia Branham had downed a bottle of whiskey, four cans of beer and sleeping tablets when she was spotted sitting in the snow in North Lynn and taken to Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, magistrates were told.
Later, as a police officer was driving her from the hospital to Lynn police station, she kicked him in the arm.
The 48-year-old, who cried throughout her appearance at court on Friday, told police she had turned to taking medication with alcohol following the death of her mother and sister in 2011, and was “truly sorry” for her behaviour.
She admitted assaulting paramedic Pamela Warwick on January 17, and also assaulting PC Jones in the execution of his duty on the same day.
Prosecuting, Yvonne Neill, said paramedics had stopped to help Branham after they found her sitting in the snow along the cycle path in Front Way.
Ms Neill said: “She was heavily intoxicated and the paramedics decided to take her to hospital.
“During the journey she managed to wriggle out of the straps on her stretcher and she struck the paramedic in the chest with a clenched fist.
“The force of the blow caused the paramedic to fall back into her seat. The defendant was very aggressive and she was shouting and swearing.”
She carried on being abusive on her way to hospital, and towards staff at the Accident and Emergency department, and the police were called.
Ms Neill told the court that PC Jones arrived to take Branham to Lynn police station.
She said: “The officer was driving en route to the station when the defendant, who was sat in the back, kicked his left forearm.”
In police interview, Branham said she didn’t remember much as she had drunk a bottle of whiskey, four cans of lager and taken some sleeping pills.
“She said her mother and sister had died and she had been taking medication and drinking and she didn’t have anyone else.”
In mitigation, Alison Muir said alcohol was playing a “big part” in Branham’s offending and she had some other self-harm issues which needed addressing.
The case was adjourned until February 25 for a pre-sentence report. Branham was released on bail.
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