David Patterson pointed what paramedics ‘thought was a firearm’ at them when all they wanted to do was check he was okay
David Patterson, pictured outside Hull Crown Court(Image: Hull Live)
A paramedic was left fearing for his life after an aggressive and menacing man became nasty during a health checks visit – and suddenly pointed what looked like a gun directly towards him. The paramedic was “genuinely” frightened that he might be killed during those tense few seconds inside the man’s bungalow, Hull Crown Court heard.
David Patterson, 53, of Clanthorpe, Orchard Park estate, north Hull, admitted assaulting an emergency worker on March 19 last year and on March 20 last year. He also admitted handling stolen goods on April 8 this year.
Harry Bradford, prosecuting, said that paramedics went to Patterson’s home to carry out checks but he became aggressive and told them to “f*** off”. He became more and more agitated towards them and reached towards a long green carrier bag. He pointed it directly at the paramedics.
“They thought it was a firearm,” said Mr Bradford. It might have been a fishing rod or a crutch but it was not a weapon, the court heard.
One of the paramedics said that he was “outraged” by Patterson’s behaviour. “All we wanted to do was check that David was okay,” he said.
“I had what I believed was a weapon pointed at me. I genuinely feared for my life.”
The next day, police went to the bungalow but Patterson was aggressive. He attempted to slam the door on the police but he was taken to the floor.
Patterson grabbed an officer’s hand and moved his face towards it in an attempt to bite it but he did not actually make contact. Pava spray was used by another officer to subdue Patterson.
On April 8 this year, police went to Patterson’s home and he opened the door and showed them into the front room. There were two mopeds there, with damage to the ignition area and loose wiring.
This raised suspicions that they were stolen. There was a balaclava on the seat of one of them. Checks revealed that the two mopeds were both stolen. “Both were recovered,” said Mr Bradford.
Patterson later admitted that he knew that both mopeds, valued at £4,000 and £2,500, were stolen. He had convictions for 71 previous offences, including nine involving assaults between 1990 and 2018 and 20 theft-related between 1990 and 2022.
Oliver Shipley, mitigating, said that Patterson had been in custody on remand for about one month after previously failing to surrender to bail. He had suffered from difficulties, including health problems.
Patterson was given 15 days’ rehabilitation.
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