A recovering alcoholic, who racially abused and assaulted a number of emergency workers has avoided jail after 'passing a test' set to him by a judge.
Paramedics attended Christopher Sandland's home in Somerset Road, Atherton, on January 6 following reports that he had taken an overdose, prosecution barrister Saul Brody told Bolton Crown Court.
When they arrived at 12.30am, paramedics judged the 47-year-old to be intoxicated and decided to take him to hospital to be assessed.
It is at this point that Sandland started to become "very aggressive", according to Mr Brody.
Mr Brody told the court : "PC Barnes and PC Noblett arrived and the defendant offered to fight PC Barnes."
Sandland then started swinging his arms towards the police officers and told them to 'f*** off'. He was put in handcuffs but on the way to the police car he dropped to the floor and kicked out at PC Barnes and PC Noblett, saying 'do you want a fight'.
Mr Brody said that Sandland was also "trying to grab hold of PC Barnes' leg".
Leg restraints had to be put on Sandland, before he was put in the ambulance and taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital. In the ambulance, he started to racially abuse PC Noblett, calling him a 'p*** c***' and a 'f****** n*****'.
At the hospital, Sandland's racial abuse continued and he is said to have used the words 'f****** n*****' between 20 and 30 times. Staff had to move patients away from Sandland and he then spat towards officers "three to four" times.
Some "dark, reddish" spit landed on another officer, PC Maddocks, and a mask was then placed on Sandland's face while he waited to be assessed.
After refusing treatment, Sandland was eventually seen by Dr Tang, who he referred to as a 'Chinese f*****' along with another racial slur.
When he was interviewed, the next day, Sandland said he had no recollection of the incidents and accused the officers of lying. Upon showing him the body cam footage, he admitted 'it must be true'.
In victim personal statements, PC Noblett said: "Incidents like this affect me greatly. I don't expect to be racially abused. I dealt with him with respect and he treated me like this."
PC Barnes added he "didn't expect to be treated like this when trying to help someone" and Maddocks said he felt "very angry and upset".
Defending, Martin Pizzey told the court that Sandland is "embarrassed and ashamed" of his behaviour and has since moved to Cheshire to live with his partner.
Mr Pizzey added that Sandland, now of Romney Close, Little Neston, has been abstinent since January.
After pleading guilty to three counts of assaulting an emergency worker and two racially aggravated public order offences, Sandland was originally due to be sentenced in June. Sentencing was deferred by Judge Timothy Stead on the basis that Sandland would not commit further offences and would be treated for drug and alcohol addiction.
Judge Stead described this as a 'test' and said: "I cannot say he has failed".
He added: "While intoxicated, you behaved in a way which can only be described as outrageous and I think you know that.
"People who are doing a service to the public deserve better and need to be protected.
"You pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and you have shown a lot more responsibility when sober. You've spent 150 days aunder a curfew and more importantly, you have taken steps to address your alcohol abuse.
"I think you've realised that for you personally there's no such thing as cutting down. You either cut it out or you're in trouble. In fairness to you, you seem to have taken that on board.
"I have tested you for the last few months and you have passed that test."
Sandland was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.
He was also ordered to pay £100 in costs and complete 25 rehabilitation requirement days, as well as the 'managing my emotions' programme.
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