Man jailed after spitting on paramedic during drunk disturbance in Rochester

A man who spat on a paramedic and racially abused a police officer in Medway has been immediately jailed.

Mark Lycett was intoxicated when he entered a Rochester business uninvited and caused a disturbance in the High Street, on Friday 26 January 2024.

South East Coast Ambulance Service was called to the scene and, as paramedics sought to assist Lycett, he spat on one of them.

Police patrols also attended and Lycett was arrested. He was taken to a local hospital and spat in an ambulance on the way, before racially abusing one of the police officers whilst being treated.

On his return to the police station, Lycett, of no fixed address, was charged by investigators from Medway’s Victim Based Crime Team with criminal damage to an ambulance, assaulting an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offence.

The 38-year-old pleaded guilty at his first hearing before Medway Magistrates’ Court and was immediately jailed for 22 weeks.

District Commander for Medway, Chief Inspector Trevor Jenner, said: "Kent’s emergency services should be able to go about their duties assisting the public without being abused or assaulted. In this incident, the obnoxious behaviour of this person directed towards paramedics and my officers was entirely unacceptable and he was swiftly brought before the court to answer for his actions."

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) Security Manager, Dave Monk, said: "My colleagues come to work to serve their communities and help people. It is never acceptable that they face violence and abuse and we welcome the swift conviction of this individual.

"We are committed to ensuring that those who engage in abusive or violent behaviour are held accountable and prosecuted for their actions."