Shaun Snell pleads guilty to assaulting police and paramedic

A Bogangar man kicked and punched police and ambulance officers who were trying to help him after he punched his arm through a glass door.

A Bogangar man faked an adverse reaction to a sedative after assaulting a paramedic and police officer who were trying to help him.

They had been called to help Shaun Snell, 23, after he had drunkenly injured himself by punching a glass door, according to court documents.

Snell pleaded guilty in Tweed Heads Local Court on Monday to assaulting police and common assault.

According to court papers, paramedics received a call to a Bogangar home at 8.55pm on January 28 after Snell had cut his arm punching a glass door.

They found Snell sitting against a tree with a 4 to 5cm cut.

His forearm muscles and tendons were protruding.

He was wearing a tourniquet fashioned from surfboard rubber and a makeshift bandage.

A paramedic tried to treat Snell who yelled at him to “f*** off” and that he didn’t need any help.

Concerned about the serious nature of the wound, a sedative was drawn up as police arrived.

Police spoke to Snell’s mum who said he’d had a break down over a long term partner and an unknown amount of drinks.

Police approached Snell and instructed him to be quiet and Snell initially calmed down and went into the ambulance on a stretcher.

However he became aggressive again when a friend tried to enter the ambulance, causing paramedics and the friend to leave the vehicle fearing for their safety.

Snell got out of the stretcher and approached the internal door, yelling and swearing, while a police officer tried to negotiate and calm him down.

Fearing Snell would hurt himself, police tried to physically restrain him and remove him from the ambulance, before Snell lashed out and struck an officer in the head.

A struggle ensued where the police officer suffered cuts to his ear and leg due to Snell kicking and punching.

A paramedic was also kicked in the head and kneed in the ribs.

Snell was given a sedative which had little effect.

He was given a muscle relaxant where he appeared to have difficulty breathing and was placed in the recovery position before he got up and yelled “got you f***ers”.

A second violent struggle ensued during which Snell yelled racial slurs at a police officer.

He was given more sedative before he was soft cuffed and taken to the Tweed Hospital.

In court, defence lawyer Carl Edwards said Snell had drunk eight full strength beers and four rums prior to the “completely out of character” offending.

He said Snell had no criminal history and was not normally in any way a violent person.

Mr Edwards said Snell had written a letter of apology to the police.

Magistrate Geoff Dunlevy warned Snell it was the type of conduct that would normally result in jail time.

However, he believed given Snell’s good character and lack of criminal history, he could repay his debts through community service.

Snell was convicted and sentenced to a two-year community correction order with conditions of good behaviour and a total of 200 hours of community service.