Ambulance crew assault leads to prosecution in Nottingham

Nottingham ambulance crew have been successfully prosecuted following a particularly brutal assault, highlighting the ongoing issue of violence against emergency services staff.

On 27 January 2019, at 4am in Talbot Street, Nottingham, Matthew Fealey, 34, from Methyr Tydfil in Wales, attacked an ambulance crew. Technician Heath Ismay and Ambulance Care Assistant Mark Maddy were treating a patient when Fealey became aggressive, throwing punches, kicking, and pulling out Heath’s hair.

Police officers arrived within six minutes after the ambulance crew requested assistance. Matthew Fealey was arrested and charged with assault. He received a 17-week sentence, suspended for 12 months, at Nottingham Magistrates Court on 29 March 2019.

This incident is part of a broader issue. Between May 2018 and April 2019, 30 physical assaults were reported against ambulance staff in Nottinghamshire. Of these, 16 individuals have been sent to court or given cautions, while investigations are ongoing for the remaining cases.

Nottinghamshire Police have also faced 124 assaults during the same period. EMAS and Nottinghamshire Police have united to tackle these assaults, releasing footage from the incident and working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service.

Mark Maddy, an ambulance care assistant, said: "I’ve been verbally assaulted a few times during my nine years at EMAS and once physically, but never on this scale. I was really disappointed that this chap felt the need to have a pop at us, when we were trying to help him."

Heath Ismay, an ambulance technician, added: "When we arrived to treat him, he was really compliant, but within a few minutes his whole demeanour changed. And the way he was fighting, he was really going for it – he knew what he was doing."

Kelvin Langford, Local Security Management Specialist at EMAS, stated: "Assaults on our staff are absolutely unacceptable and we take a zero tolerance approach towards anyone who verbally or physically assaults them. Alcohol or substance abuse is not an excuse and doesn’t wash with us or the legal system."

Chief Inspector Chris Sullivan of Nottinghamshire Police said: "Any assault on my colleagues in all emergency services is unacceptable. These incidents are incredibly serious. The crew on that day handled themselves impeccably and were incredibly brave throughout the whole ordeal."

Both organisations encourage public support for their initiatives to tackle assaults against emergency services staff.