TWO paramedics and a police officer were attacked by a man who believed they were trying to rob him, a court heard.

Darlington man Joseph Mark Betteridge woke up from a drunken ‘coma’ to find one man leaning on him while another held his credit card.

It was only after he attacked the pair – and a female police officer who stopped to help – that he realised they were paramedics attempting to treat him.

On Monday, April 13 an ambulance was called after a heavily intoxicated Betteridge, 42, passed out in Darlington town centre at around 11am.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday that two paramedics were attempting to treat the unconscious man when he came round and became “abusive and uncooperative.”

A passing PC stopped to assist the ambulance crew and was attacked after attempting to restrain Betteridge.

When the paramedics tried to help her, they were also attacked and left with injuries including an injured testicle and a damaged collar bone.

Jonathan Harley, representing Betteridge, said his client had been returning home from a house party where he drank heavily and took drugs.

He claimed Betteridge – of Fulford Place, Darlington - was apologetic for the attack which happened as a result of him mistaking the paramedics and police officer as robbers.

He said: “All he remembers is waking up not knowing where he was and seeing one person holding him down and another with his credit card in his hand.

“He panicked and thought he was being robbed, he didn’t know what was going on – he was very confused and accepts he lashed out.

“All he can say is that he is very sorry and shocked to think of what he did, he’s not a violent man, it was a reckless act brought on by intoxication that was his own fault.”

Mr Harley told magistrates that Betteridge had worked hard to turn his life around after overcoming a heroin addiction but had spiralled downwards after being made redundant recently.

Betteridge pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by beating and one of assaulting a constable in the execution of their duty.

Chair of the bench Christine Selby said: “The bench feels as though this case is aggravated in seriousness because all three assaults involved injured parties who were going about their work.”

Betteridge will be sentenced at a later date.