AMBULANCE chiefs today condemned a teenager who assaulted a senior paramedic and a policeman during a violent struggle in York.

David Butterfield, area manager for North Yorkshire's ambulance service, was spat at full in the face and sustained a cut to his arm during a struggle with teenager Richard William Foster in Acomb.

Nigel Metcalfe, spokesman for Tees East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said such incidents were an increasing trend.

He said: "We do totally condemn this kind of behaviour towards any of our staff."

Mr Butterfield was trying to investigate a street attack in Front Street when Foster, 18, intervened, prosecutor Rosemary Ainslie told York Magistrates Court.

Mrs Ainslie said Mr Butterfield followed and accosted a suspect nearby.

Foster then intervened, telling him to mind his own business and Mr Butterfield said it was his business.

The teenager was so threatening that Mr Butterfield feared for his own safety and tried to restrain him.

They were still fighting when PC Carl Gaskin arrived and Foster kicked the officer in the shin.

Casual worker Foster, of Patterdale Drive, off Shipton Road, York, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Butterfield and assaulting a police officer and was given 200 hours' community punishment.

He was also ordered to pay £150 compensation and £75 costs.

He had no convictions before the fight, York magistrates heard.

For Foster, Andrew Craven said his client was very sorry for his actions and had not deliberately cut Mr Butterfield.

In March, the Evening Press revealed how doctors, nurses, midwives and health visitors who work alone in the community will be given state-of-the-art devices called Identicoms in the wake of a 38 per cent increase in violent incidents in the past year.

The alarms have already been tested during a trial by health workers in North Yorkshire.

The £250 gadgets, part of an ID card, contain alarm buttons, which threatened workers can press to alert police.

North Yorkshire Police officers are also to receive new radios which can summon assistance to their exact location using satellite navigation.

Updated: 10:27 Monday, May 02, 2005