Paramedic assault: student walks free

A high-flying student who admitted attacking a paramedic like a "drunken animal" walked free from court today.

Melissa Massey, 20, was jailed on Monday for punching Ann Sumner in the face and ripping out clumps of her hair as she tended to her on the pavement of a city centre following a New Year's Eve blow-out.

But today, the Oxford Brookes University student was freed by a Crown Court judge from the eight-week jail term given to her by Manchester magistrates.

She admitted common assault but successfully appealed against the sentence today after spending only four days behind bars.

Judge Christopher Alldiss QC, sitting at Manchester Crown Square, said the Business and English student should be freed because of her previous good character, youth and "industrious nature".

Massey was so drunk in the early hours of New Year's Day this year she could not remember what she had done.

She was staggering along Princess Street in Manchester, supported by two men, when one of them flagged down Mrs Sumner, a paramedic of 20 years' standing.

As the medic covered up Massey - predicted to get a first class honours degree - with a blanket and checked her temperature, the defendant launched the unprovoked attack.

"She grabbed Mrs Sumner and punched her in the face with her right hand," said Roger Green, for the Crown.

"The victim could not say how many times this happened but said it 'seemed to go on for ages'.

"She tried to force her hand off her hair but at this point the man who flagged her down punched her in the chest and neck."

This man was never caught.

"The appellant grabbed hold of her hair a second time and punched her in the right eye."

Another ambulance crew arrived and intervened and called the police.

As Mrs Sumner was being helped by her colleagues, the man who joined in the attack sauntered over and said: "Sorry, love. Respect. Happy New Year," then walked off.

The ambulance worker suffered bruises to her face and neck and lost clumps of hair, the court heard.

Massey - who already owed her life to medics who saved her when, aged 11, she was knocked down by a drunken driver - told police she had consumed more than 10 alcoholic drinks that night.

She was "drunk out of her mind", the judge said.

Massey - who has secured an internship with a London consultancy and hoped to do a Masters degree in America - told officers she was "so upset" by what she had done.

Alistair Reid, defending, said the only explanation for the attack was she had become nervous of medical professionals after undergoing surgery for her childhood trauma.

He said: "Throughout this matter she has accepted full responsibility and demonstrated unqualified remorse and shown complete sympathy for the complainant in this matter.

"She was the victim of a drunk driver aged 11 so has full support for the victim of this drunken crime.

"That incident had a significant long-term effect on the appellant.

"She is particularly self-conscious of a scar on her head and particularly apprehensive around medical staff.

"She would never seek to justify her actions but this is the only possible explanation for lashing out and reacting in such an appalling manner."

Massey, of Pendle Road, Denton, Manchester, cried throughout the hearing.

Judge Alldiss, sitting with two JPs, released her from custody immediately, suspending the sentence for two years but imposing 180 hours of unpaid work and ordering her to pay Mrs Sumner £350.

He told her: "You have led a blameless, industrious life but on the occasion of New Year's Eve last you turned yourself into a drunken animal."

He added: "This type of late night, drink-fuelled violence is all too prevalent and particularly serious when wreaked on public servants endeavouring to do their duty - in this case the paramedic was trying to help you.

"Drink-fuelled violence is a curse of modern society.

"We can wholly understand why the lower court imposed an immediate custodial sentence.

"However having regard to your youth, previous good character and your apparently industrious nature - and the fact that there is no suggestion that your conduct was anything other than an isolated incident - consideration should have been given to suspending the sentence.

"I think you should consider yourself lucky."

Outside court, Miss Massey, who jointly founded a university group for young entrepreneurs, declined to comment.

The North West Ambulance Service also refused to comment.