Woman fined for spitting on ambulance and screaming at crew

A woman who spat on an ambulance and screamed at the crew when they stopped to treat her friend in south London has been fined and given a 12 month community order.

Cibele Soares-Alvarenga, 48, flagged down an ambulance after her friend collapsed in the street in Stockwell after a night of drinking during lockdown earlier this year.

The ambulance noticed her waving frantically and stopped to help the patient to his feet, but decided he did not need further treatment.

Soares-Alvarenga became so verbally abusive the crew sought refuge in the ambulance.  

She tried to force her way inside, pulling on the door and the wing mirror and banging the window, which she then spat on.

Manager Scott Lummes supported the ambulance crew throughout the court process.

He said: “This is a great result and demonstrates how seriously the legal system takes this sort of behaviour – the magistrates in this case said they were disgusted.”

Soares-Alvarenga was sentenced at Croydon Magistrates Court last month. As well as the fine and community order, she was ordered to pay £100 compensation each to the ambulance clinicians.

As part of its #NotPartOfTheJob campaign, London Ambulance Service has introduced bodyworn video cameras and CCTV on ambulances to try to protect crews.

It has also recruited two violence reduction officers, who work closely with the police and support victims.   

Chief Paramedic Dr John Martin said: “Our clinicians treat people with care and compassion and should not fear for their safety while doing their job.  

“Attacks on our staff and volunteers – either verbal or physical – are unacceptable and we have a zero tolerance approach. Any abuse will be reported to the police and we will push for the strongest sentence.”

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https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/19709436.woman-fined-spitting-ambulance-screaming-crew/

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