A 36-YEAR-OLD man assaulted a paramedic who had attended because he had passed out after drinking excessively.

Blackburn magistrates heard the ambulance crew and the woman who had called them eventually had to lock themselves in the emergency vehicle and drive off as Andrew Edward Douthwaite ran towards them.

Douthwaite, of Stonyhurst Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting paramedic Claire Welch and two charges of assaulting Amanda Atherton. He was remanded in custody for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Douthwaite claimed he was in a relationship with Miss Atherton but she was adamant that was not the case and said he was just obsessed with her.

On July 4 she called the ambulance after he passed out after a heavy drinking session.

The paramedics noticed bruises on Miss Atherton and she said they were as a result of Douthwaite punching her two days earlier.

Douthwaite admitted to the paramedics that he had punched Miss Atherton. He said: “I could kill her just like I could kill you.”

When Miss Welch tried to put a pulse monitor on Douthwaite’s finger he grabbed her hand and squeezed hard.

“He kept clenching his fist and growling and the ambulance crew and Miss Atherton left the house and retreated to the ambulance,” said Miss Allan.

“They drove down the road after calling the police but had to drive further away when he came running towards them.”

Miss Allan said that five days later Douthwaite turned up at Miss Atherton’s house at 11pm in a drunken state.

She went to bed but was woken shortly after by him straddling her with his hands around her neck.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client didn’t have a great recollection of the incidents.

He needs some assistance with regards to his drinking,” said Mr Taylor.