Nine years for man who stabbed two paramedics - The Evesham Observer

Nine years for man who stabbed two paramedics

Evesham Editorial 13th Jul, 2021   0

THERE were more than 1,162 physical attacks record on West Midlands Ambulance Service staff over the last year.

The shock statistic comes after one man, Martyn Smith, was jailed for nine years after he stabbed two paramedics while they were on duty.

Now the hope is that his sentence will send a strong message of the consequences of assaulting emergency service workers.

Smith, 52, pleaded guilty to two counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to the pair after they were called out to his home in Wolverhampton last summer.




Shocking police bodycam footage shows the moment Mick Hipgrave and Deena Evans were attacked by Smith with two large kitchen knives as they carried out a welfare check in Stephens Close, on July 6, 2020.

Deena suffered a punctured lung in the attack and subsequently spent three days in hospital following surgery.


Mick was stabbed in the back and was discharged from hospital the same day. The pair spent months off work for both their physical and mental recovery.

The whole incident lasted about 12 seconds, from the moment Mick and Deena entered the property, to Smith being tasered.

Trust chief executive, Anthony Marsh, said: “The events in Wolverhampton last summer were absolutely devastating.

For two paramedics to be stabbed so horrifically whilst simply trying to help a patient is sickening.

“I want to commend the outstanding resilience of both Mick and Deena in their wishes to come back to work and continue to help their patients after everything they’ve been through.

“Assaults on ambulance staff, whether it be physical or verbal, are not okay.

“I hope the sentence acts as a deterrent and sends a strong message that attacks on emergency service workers will not be tolerated.

“My gratitude also goes to the police officers at the scene. If it weren’t for their quick intervention, the result could have been even worse.”

In the last five years physical attacks against staff have risen by more than 60 per cent while verbal assaults have more than doubled.

Funding of almost a million pounds from NHS England has allowed the Trust to purchase body 1,288 cameras which will be sufficient for each frontline ambulance crew member to wear one.

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