Lowestoft man jailed after spitting at police and kicking a paramedic
He's been sentenced to over five years.
Last updated 28th Jan 2022
A man from Lowestoft who held a man against his will and threatened him with a knife, and then spat at police officers and kicked a paramedic, has been jailed.
33 Andrew Reilly of Notley Road was given over five years in prison and an extended licence of three years, for false imprisonment and three assaults on emergency workers.
It's after a 27 year-old man phoned police in March 2021 saying a man was trying to stab him.
Officers met the victim at Lowestoft Police Station and he told them how Reilly had got into his bedroom through a downstairs window, he then assaulted him and threatened him with a knife over an alleged drug debt of £220.
He was then forced to leave the property with Reilly and taken to Reeve Street - where further threats were made.
He was then taken to another address on Jacobs Street - the pair then left there with Reilly telling the victim he was going to force him to commit a robbery to get the money he was after.
It was when they were walking that the victim made his escape.
Reilly was arrested the same day following a report to the ambulance service that an assault at an address had taken place, where Reilly was the victim.
It was whilst police and paramedics were there, that Reilly spat at two police officers and kicked a paramedic - he was charged and remanded in custody.
DI Matt Adams of Lowestoft CID said: “This attack was against a vulnerable individual who was known to the defendant. The victim in this case was targeted by Reilly over a debt he considered the victim to be responsible for.
"During the ordeal Reilly subjected the victim to violence, threatened him with a knife and took him from one property to another where he was further detained against his will. Thankfully the victim was able to escape and sought immediate assistance from the police.
“I commend the victim for his courage in coming forward and seeing this through to the end. Reilly is a violent bully who thought he could offend without repercussion, he didn’t plead guilty until the day his trial was due to commence, no doubt hoping the victim would be too afraid to give evidence. Reilly is no stranger to jail but I am glad to see him back behind bars where he can no longer cause upset in the community.”