A man has admitted assaulting ambulance workers in one of three attacks on working paramedics.
The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) said three of its crews were assaulted in separate attacks in Blyth, South Shields and South Hetton on Saturday.
The assaults came as the government considered doubling the sentences for those who attacked emergency workers.
Luke Gallagher, 28, is due to be sentenced for the Blyth attack at Newcastle Crown Court on August 10.
Gallagher, from Seaton Delaval, admitted two counts of assaulting an emergency worker and obstructing a police officer when he appeared at Bedlington Magistrates' Court.
NEAS said that the incident took place at an address in Blyth just before 6pm on Saturday when NEAS received a call for man who had taken a suspected drugs overdose.
When the crew arrived, another man in the same house became aggressive and allegedly assaulted one of the crew.
All three crew members retreated to the ambulance and locked themselves in the back with the patient, who still required treatment.
Alan Palin, 66, of Wilfred Street, Boldon Colliery, has been charged with assault of an emergency worker in South Shields, as well as criminal damage and threatening behaviour.
He will appear before South Tyneside Magistrates' Court on 25 August.
Durham Constabulary said a 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and police officer following the South Hetton incident.
He was interviewed and has been released under investigation.
NEAS deputy chief executive Paul Liversidge said: "“For our staff to have been put under such an enormous pressure on Saturday night because of an increase in drink and drug related calls has become a real concern. We are still dealing with a coronavirus pandemic, which the sensible majority is helping the NHS to tackle.
“But the acts of a foolish minority have now spilled over to violence and these people need to be swiftly and appropriately dealt with so that they do not put any others of my staff in any danger."
