A CHESTER man with mental health issues charged at a paramedic “with gritted teeth” after calling an ambulance to help him get over a panic attack, a court heard.

Richard Simon Jenkins, 40, then threw a bag of beer cans into the road, causing them to burst and spray their contents all over the street.

Paramedic Shaun Hartley-Foster had to shove the defendant back before he and his colleague could leave the scene at Ermine Road in Hoole.

In a statement read to Chester Magistrates Court by prosecutor Rob Youds, he said: “I don’t come to work and expect to be treated like this.

“No one should have to take abuse and threats of violence when they are trying to do their job.”

Jenkins, of Saddlery Way, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour at a hearing on Friday (May 10) and was handed a 12-month community order.

He was also fined £120 and must pay Mr Hartley-Foster £100 compensation, which will be deducted from his benefits.

Mr Youds said the paramedics had responded to a call from a man saying he had suffered a panic attack at around 3.45pm on April 17 this year.

When they arrived they immediately recognised Jenkins as someone who had dialled 999 for similar reasons in the past.

On this occasion he had cancelled the ambulance once but then called it out again.

“The paramedic asked him if he still needed them,” Mr Youds said. “Mr Jenkins replied ‘of course I f***ing need you!’”

The defendant then “blew up like a bottle of pop”.

“His chest was puffed out and his fists were clenched,” Mr Youds told the court. “He then charged with his teeth gritted and arm raised.”

Mr Hartley-Foster pushed him in the chest before Jenkins threatened to kill him and threw the bag of beers into the road.

The ambulance control room then advised the crew to leave the area.

Jenkins has four previous convictions for four offences, three of which related to matters of public disorder.

Howard Jones, defending, said his client had been out of trouble for three years and suffered with a string of issues including ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, paranoia, borderline personality disorder, anxiety and depression.

He explained that Jenkins had been walking to see his uncle in Hoole when he suffered a panic attack and visited his doctor’s surgery.

He was given the all clear to leave but then began suffering another attack believing people were going to assault him.

When the paramedics arrived he felt they were “prejudging him on his past behaviour,” Mr Jones said.

“He didn’t attempt to hit anyone and threw the bag in frustration,” the solicitor said. “He accepts that his actions were inappropriate.”

Jenkins was already said to be working well with mental health support services and his community order will include 35 days of rehabilitation activity to help him.

He was also caught in possession of a small amount of amphetamine, a class B drug, for which he received no separate penalty.