Drunk pastor sentenced for assault

Lee Stephens, a pastor from Northern Ireland, has been given a 16-week suspended prison sentence, after threatening to have paramedics who came to his aid “murdered by the IRA.”

Stephens was working in Essex in April this year when he drove his car on the wrong side of the road and hit another car, after drinking in a pub in Ingatestone. Trust staff arrived to treat Stephens and the occupants of the other car, but were abused by the pastor verbally and physically.

In court he admitted assault, assaulting a police officer, common assault, failing to provide a specimen of blood and using threatening words and behaviour.

He was ordered to pay £250 compensation to his victims, was disqualified from driving and ordered to do 200 hours’ unpaid work.

Local Security Management Specialist Anne Wright said: “This is a good result for the staff involved in this case, who were subjected to an awful assault. None of our staff should be treated in this way and it is good to see the courts agree.”