A 30-year-old man who abused and attacked two Barnoldswick paramedics as they tended his epileptic girlfriend has walked free from court.

Burnley Magistrates had heard that one victim, David Mitchell, was kicked in the kidney, but carried on his duties in pain and had to have 10 days off work.

His colleague Philip White was shoulder charged and punched as Ian Stuart Murgatroyd tried to stop them putting the collapsed woman in an ambulance.

Mr Mitchell, an ambulanceman for 22 years and who has been awarded the Queen's Exemplary Medal for Good Service, said he had never encountered such violence before. Both he and his colleague are stationed at Barnoldswick.

Murgatroyd was given a 12 months' community rehabilitation order and must pay £318 compensation to his victims. Sentencing him, bench chairman Susan Hughes said he had come close to custody. She added that the defendant's behaviour had put the patient at risk.

Murgatroyd, of Woodlands Road, Nelson, had been convicted of two counts of assault by beating, in his absence, after a trial.

Neil White, prosecuting, said last November, the paramedics were called to Brierfield where a woman was having an epileptic fit. Two men looked as if they were fighting nearby and as they got closer Mr Mitchell, who was treating the woman, became unnerved by their aggressive behaviour.

Mr Mitchell told them to move back but was ignored. Mr White arrived with a stretcher for the patient, but Murgatroyd began to drag her off it. He was extremely violent, shouting and swearing and said she was not going anywhere without him.

One of the ambulancemen went to press the panic button but the defendant went berserk. His colleague restrained him, both went to the floor and he tried to hold the defendant down.

Murgatroyd eventually calmed down and left, but returned and Mr Mitchell felt a kick in the kidney. The woman was put in the ambulance and the defendant got in, shouting and swearing.

The prosecutor said Mr Mitchell suffered multiple contusions all over his body. Mr White was shoulder charged, hit and suffered multiple bruises and a badly swollen knee.

John Rusius, defending, said Murgatroyd's girlfriend had suffered fits in the past and the hospital had not been able to provide any direct assistance. She was kept under observation and had come to the conclusion there was no point in going to hospital. She had made it clear if she had a fit and Murgatroyd was with her, she did not wish to be taken to hospital.

A passer by called the ambulance but the defendant, who had been drinking, simply wanted his girlfriend's wishes to be complied with. He tried to persuade the paramedics not to take her to hospital and he accepted during that there was some "argy-bargy".

Mr Rusius added that the assaults were not his primary intention, but a side result.