A MAN who drunkenly groped an ambulance assistant on the way to Broomfield Hospital has been told he is lucky to escape prison.

James McKinnon, 61, was given a suspended nine-month jail term after he sexually assaulted a member of ambulance staff who was trying to help him. He was also ordered to pay £500 compensation to the member of staff, along with £250 court costs and a victim surcharge of £100.

An East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust crew attended Mr McKinnon on September 2 after he had fallen over while at a wedding at Leez Priory in Hartford End, Chelmsford.

He became abusive towards the crew and inappropriately touched a member of the ambulance crew whilst in the ambulance.

The Emergency Care Assistant was again assaulted in A & E at Broomfield Hospital, and the court was told that his behaviour was unacceptable across the board.

Mr McKinnon first pleaded guilty last month at Chelmsford Magistrates Court to two charges of sexual assault.

In her summing up at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday morning, Her Hon Judge Lynch told McKinnon: "They are people that do a job that you and I would not be able to. They are entitled to be protected from drunken men groping them in a sexual manner.

Judge Lynch later added: "You are very fortunate not to be leaving here and heading for Chelmsford prison."

Defending, Sean Sullivan said his client felt "ashamed and embarrassed".

EEAST Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, said: "We do everything in our power to protect our frontline staff who work exceptionally hard to help people, often when in their greatest need. We take a zero tolerance approach when anyone fails to respect our dedicated staff and we will seek to prosecute those who assault or abuse them."