Man jailed for 'appalling' hammer attack on paramedic

A man who left a paramedic fearing for his life after attacking him with a hammer has been jailed.

James Chandler, from St Pauls in Bristol, targeted the emergency worker at close range and only narrowly missed his head on 28 May 2026, Bristol Crown Court heard.

The 49-year-old was sentenced to 16 months in prison during a hearing earlier, after previously pleading guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and threatening with an offensive weapon.

Mike Jones, manager at South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT), described the assault as an "appalling and genuinely life-threatening attack".

The court was told that Chandler had turned aggressive while two paramedics were responding to an emergency call to help Chandler.

During sentencing, judge Mr Justice Picton said: "I appreciate you had mental health issues, but you knew what was going on and then as you weren't getting what you believed you needed, you flipped out.

"Understandably, you caused your victim great fear. He thought he was at risk of losing his life."

Chandler will serve at least 40% of his sentence, amounting to more than six months.

The paramedic, who was not seriously injured in the assault, told the court: "Nobody should feel unsafe while carrying out their job, particularly when working in a caring profession.

"Sadly, we are often verbally abused, but thankfully physical abuse is less common, though it still happens."

Jones said that SWASFT is seeing healthcare workers being exposed to extreme violence far too often.

"This cannot, and will not, be tolerated.

"Any assault on an emergency worker is unacceptable," Jones added.

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