A THUG who threatened paramedics with a knife as they tried to help him has been jailed.

Mark Barlow was lying on the floor near Bolton bus station at 11.45pm on June 4, Bolton Crown Court heard.

A 41-year-old paramedic, who was alone in a rapid response car, tried to help him but he would not get up.

When another ambulance arrived and more paramedics tried to help Barlow, the 22-year-old pulled a knife from his pocket.

The emergency service workers backed off and he dropped the weapon, but picked it up again.

He held it out towards them, leaving the paramedics fearing for their safety. Two got into the ambulance, but the rapdi response paramedic was chased along Trinity Street by Barlow with the knife.

The ambulance drove towards the lone paramedic and he was able to jump into the vehicle. Police were contacted and they found Barlow at Bolton train station, where he pulled the knife on them.

He refused to drop it and they were forced to strike his arm with a baton to release the weapon before he was arrested. Barlow, of St George’s Road, Bolton, pleaded guilty to affray and was jailed for 16 months.

The paramedic who was chased by Barlow lives in Bolton. He said: “I have been doing this job for 10 years and nothing like this has happened before.

“We get verbally abused but I have had nothing like that. We were all shocked. It has made me very wary when I go to jobs now as I am a permanent solo responder. Hopefully the sentence will send out a clear message.”

Director of emergency services for the North West Ambulance Service, Derek Cartwright, added: “If an assault occurs, NWAS will always fully support the staff members involved and encourage them to report the incident to the police to ensure appropriate action is taken. The behaviour of this individual is totally unacceptable. We fully welcome this sentence and hope it sends out a very clear message to anyone who assaults our crews, either verbally or physically, that they face the possibility of prosecution and a custodial sentence.”

“We go to great lengths to ensure our staff can treat patients in an environment that is safe and secure. The protection of our staff is a priority of ours and we will continue to work on a number of campaigns and initiatives designed to keep them safe.”