A man who collapsed at Motherwell train station tried to spit on paramedics who had attempted to revive him.
Charlie Irwin’s behaviour was so bad that the mercy workers turfed him out of their ambulance.
Irwin, 28, a prisoner, was jailed for 15 months at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Friday.
He admitted assaulting three paramedics and two police officers by trying to spit on them on October 31.
Jennifer Cunningham, prosecuting, said the paramedics were asked to go to the station about half past midnight to deal with a suspected overdose.
Irwin, who was unresponsive, was put in an ambulance and given an injection.
Ms Cunningham told the court: “Routine checks on him were carried out and a short time later he became responsive.
“He began to act aggressively and spat towards the three paramedics, shouting ‘I told you not to do that’.
“Due to his aggression, he was ejected from the ambulance and police were given his description.
“Two police officers located him in Brandon Parade and approached him. Irwin again became aggressive and tried to spit at them.”
After he was arrested Irwin was taken to hospital due to concerns about his welfare, but he refused treatment.
Irwin’s lawyer said he acknowledged his behaviour was unacceptable and he was ashamed.
He has problems with alcohol and drugs, and has a “lengthy” criminal record.
The solicitor added: “On this occasion he had taken a significant amount of vodka and was trying to get home.”
Sheriff Douglas Brown told Irwin: “Emergency service workers require the protection of the courts so assaults on them are to be treated with appropriate severity.
“Assaults by spitting or attempting to spit during the current pandemic are particularly serious because they are likely to cause significant alarm and distress.”
The 15-month sentence was reduced from 22 months because of Irwin’s early guilty pleas and backdated to November 2.
