On Friday May 10, 2024, Jonathan Roberts, a Welsh Ambulance Service paramedic of 24 years was attempting to treat Nigel Francis, 58 from Blaenymaes when the vile act occurred in the Ravenhill area of Swansea.
Jonathan, 50, said: “I second guess every situation now. I do understand that when people are intoxicated, it clouds their judgement.
“Nobody deserves to be spoken to like that, threatened, and then spat on when all you’re trying to do is carry out your role as a paramedic to help patients in the community.
“When he spat at me, I just felt disgusted that a patient could treat anyone like that. I was there to help him.”
In the clip below, Francis is seen being led to a police van in handcuffs when he spits in paramedic’s face.
“We’d been sent to a chap reported to have been unconscious, but when we arrived, he was clearly conscious and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.
“He was verbally abusive and physically threatening from the outset, so we called for police back-up.
“With the police now in attendance, he continued his barrage of abuse, so he was arrested and placed in handcuffs.
“As a police van arrived to escort him to hospital, he leaned forward and spat directly at me, the sputum landing on my face, neck, and clothing.”
Francis had previously been found guilty of assaulting an emergency worker and using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm, or distress.
“What he did was disgusting, but I still had a duty of care for this man,” continued Jonathan.
“Continuity of care is everything, had I passed his care on to someone else, something might have been missed in the handover to hospital staff.”
Francis pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm, or distress.
He was sentenced to eight months in prison and ordered to pay £50 compensation to the paramedic at Swansea Magistrates’ Court, on Tuesday February 25, 2025.
Police Sergeant John Hughes said:
“Nobody should expect to be assaulted – either physically or verbally – when they go to work, whether you work for the emergency services or otherwise.
“This behaviour makes our roles more challenging, and we will take firm action against those responsible.”
Lee Brooks, Executive Director of Operations at the Welsh Ambulance Service, added:
“Any form of assault is unacceptable, but spitting in particular is downright depraved.
“Jonathan was there to help this man, and this was the ultimate disrespect.
“The fact that Jonathan continued to deliver care for him is frankly remarkable.
“We will always seek prosecution for those who harm our people, and sentences should reflect the devastating and long-term impact that assault has on our staff and volunteers”
[Lead image: South Wales Police]
