A Berkeley woman who lashed out at paramedics in a drunken, drug-fuelled rage has apologised to her victim for the "uncharacteristic" attack.
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Amanda Marasovic penned the apology to the Wollongong paramedic after she punched and kicked him in the head while he tried to treat her at a West Wollongong address on December 21, 2013.
The 24-year-old had jumped though a glass window in a drug-induced panic and fallen three metres to the ground when paramedics arrived at the Poulter Street home.
They were treating her cuts and grazes when she began kicking and punching.
On Monday, Kiama Local Court heard that Marasovic had been drinking and sharing a joint with friends at a barbecue when she inadvertently ate a cake "laced" with marijuana.
Solicitor Gregory Murphy told the court Marasovic lost control after eating the "hash cake" and had no memory of lashing out at paramedics.
"It wasn't a planned incident, it was a reckless incident ... it is quite clear she can't remember the events of that night," he said.
"She clearly didn't know what she was doing."
The court heard Marasovic was remorseful for the attack and suffered "horrifically" from the press coverage of the incident.
"I can't express how sorry I am for this," she wrote to her victim, later saying the violent outburst was "uncharacteristic" of her.
In sentencing Marasovic, Magistrate Mark Richardson accepted she was of otherwise good character, but expressed the need to deter such crimes.
"This is a situation where in my view ... the community would expect there to be a firm response to a charge of this kind, if for no other reason than to give support to officers in the field who have to discharge these functions," he said.
Marasovic was fined $400 and placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond after admitting common assault.
A Barraack Heights man will spend at least the next 12months behind bars after an ice-fuelled attack left a female paramedic battered and bruised.
Marcus Rex Olive was sentenced to a maximum 18 months’ jail for repeatedly punching the woman in the head and kicking her in the body during an unprovoked attack in the back of an ambulance on March21.
The 34-year-old had consented to have his blood pressure taken, only to lash out when the paramedic touched him. Her screams alerted her partner, who dragged her to safety.
They had intended to take Olive to hospital after he admitted to police he had taken ice that night and had been rambling incoherently.
On Monday, Albion Park Local Court heard that Olive’s mental health had suffered terribly after he was allegedly sexually assaulted by a swim coach as a child, eventually causing him to have a ‘‘complete mental breakdown’’ by age 21.
Concerned family members told the court Olive was ‘‘no longer able to distinguish between what is real and what is not’’.
However, the matter was not dealt with under the Mental Health Act and Olive pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and resisting arrest.
Magistrate Michael Stoddart sentenced him to a minimum 12 months’ jail for the attack.
Violent perpetrators who lash out at paramedics in drunken or drug-fuelled rages deserve harsh sentencing, Ambulance Service of NSW district inspector Norm Rees said.
The comments come after two people were convicted on Monday for separate, drug-fuelled attacks on paramedics.
Inspector Rees said it was time for people who chose to drink excessively or take illicit substances to be accountable for their actions.
‘‘Those people who go out and choose to take drugs or alcohol, when they hurt themselves and paramedics are called, it’s not acceptable that we get assaulted for it,’’ he said.
‘‘Nobody wants to see us assaulted and we don’t want to be assaulted ... it’s a no-brainer, they’ve got to pay for their actions.’’
Inspector Rees welcomed news Marcus Olive, 34, had been jailed for a violent, ice-fuelled attack on a female paramedic in March.
‘‘I think that that sentence sends a clear message,’’ he said.
‘‘Twelve months behind bars will give him time to think about his actions because it was a serious assault.’’
He was disappointed by the second matter, where Amanda Marasovic, 24, punched and kicked a paramedic after consuming alcohol and a ‘‘hash cake’’.
‘‘I’m disappointed she was [only] given a 12-month good behaviour bond and $400 fine, that doesn’t set a clear example,’’ he said. ‘‘Using the excuse that they were under the effects of drugs, anyone could claim that...but it’s not acceptable.’’
