Jail for woman who attacked NHS worker at Norwich hospital

Samantha Brown, 31, had been at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital with a medical complaint when the NHS worker tried to return a box of medication to her.

Norwich Magistrates' Court heard Brown had been "shouting and swearing" before she called the paramedic a "murdering ****".

Brown launched into an attack on the woman in which she was repeatedly punched and had her hair pulled.

Lesla Small, prosecuting, said Brown "grabbed hold of her hair" pulled it and punched her in the face "causing her pain".

Brown was arrested and taken to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre (PIC) where she spat in the face of a police officer.

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Brown, of Lime Tree Avenue, Long Stratton, appeared at court on Wednesday (June 7) having admitted two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker on November 3, 2022.

Before Brown was sentenced, the court heard the assault "affected" the paramedic who was attacked "for no reason" while she was on duty.

Jailing Brown for 12 weeks, District Judge David Wilson said paramedics "deserve the protection of the courts as do police officers who go about their lawful duties in seeking to protect the public".

In recent years, tougher new sentences have been brought in to deal with those who are convicted of assaulting emergency workers.

Brown, who was crying in the dock, was also ordered to pay both the paramedic and police officer £100 compensation.

Andrew Spence, mitigating, said she "could not excuse in any way her behaviour towards the paramedic".

He said she had been struggling badly with her physical health and also her mental health prior to the incident.

Mr Spence said had been at hospital with a medical complaint, which has since been diagnosed as kidney stones, and was "alarmed by that" and had been "stressed and worried".