Tougher punishments could be imposed on anyone convicted of assaulting emergency workers or threatening to transmit diseases under sentencing guidelines proposals published last month.
The Independent Sentencing Council recommendations implement changes introduced under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018, in which a higher statutory maximum of 12 months in prison was introduced.
During the first nine months of last year, the consultation notes, 6,400 offenders were sentenced under this offence.
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Emergency workers include police officers, prison officers, firefighters, search and rescue personnel, NHS medical and support staff as well as doctors’ receptionists and NHS administrative staff whose activities involve contact with the public.
Here are the offenders sentenced by Bristol magistrates for assaulting emergency workers in April 2020.
April 1
Thomas Cserenyecz, 32, of no fixed abode , admitted assaulting two emergency workers in Union Street, Bristol, on March 25. He also admitted stealing a bag and contents from St Mary Redcliff Church on February 19 as well as a mobile phone and a tin containing £150 cash on February 24.
He was jailed for 52 weeks.
April 15
Rebecca Wise, 33, of Station Road, Henbury, admitted breaching the requirements of a community order - she failed to attend supervision appointments in January this year.
So magistrates sentenced her again for the original offence, which was assaulting two emergency workers in November 2018. She was sent to prison for 12 weeks, but that jail sentence was suspended for 12 months.
She was also ordered to attend 35 probation days.
April 27
Lee John Sage, 35, of Kings Weston Avenue in Shirehampton , admitted assaulting a police officer at Cross Field, Patchway, on April 26. He was jailed for eight weeks.
April 29
Christina Howell, 32, of Bristol Homeless Trust in Ashley Road, admitted assaulting a mental health nurse at Avon Orthopaedic Centre, Southmead Hospital, on March 22. She also admitted assaulting an emergency worker and urinating in a cell at Patchway Police Centre on March 23. She was jailed for 12 weeks.
April 30
Julie Ann Garland, 54, of Newland in Bishopsworth, admitted assaulting an emergency worker and possessing 0.106 grams of crack cocaine and 0.095 grams of diamorphine at Lidl in Whitchurch Lane, Bishopsworth, on September 20 last year. She also admitted assaulting a police constable in the execution of his duty. She was handed a community order.
Gary Henry Robson, 43, of no fixed abode, admitted damaging a window at 14 Narrow Quay, Bristol, on April 10. He also admitted: assaulting an emergency worker at Southmead on April 18; damaging a cell at Patchway Police Centre on April 21. He was jailed for 16 weeks.
Mia Sutherland, 20, of Filton Avenue, Horfield, admitted assaulting an emergency worker at Bristol Royal Infirmary on April 29. She also admitted damaging a lock on a front door in Hotwells Road on April 16 while on a suspended sentence. She was handed 29 weeks custody.
Brian Woodman, 34, of Bantry Road in Knowle, admitted damaging a Citroen car in Creswicke Road, Knowle, on April 28. He also admitted: wilfully obstructing a police constable at Creswicke Road, Knowle, on April 28; threatening behaviour in East Street, Bedminster, on April 4; damaging a Vauxhall car in Creswicke Road, Knowle, on April 28; assaulting an emergency worker at Bristol Royal Infirmary on April 29; breaching a community order and conditional discharge. He was jailed for 47 weeks.
