A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to three years and nine months in prison after pleading guilty to drugs offences and assaulting emergency workers.

Ryan Wellman of no fixed abode, Penzance, was sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court on 4 December after he admitted five offences.

Wellman was taken to Derriford Hospital by a Police Constable and a Special Constable on 26 October after he was involved in a collision in the Glynn Valley between Liskeard and Bodmin.

While in hospital, Wellman was arrested and searched, where he was found to be in possession of around £3,000-worth of Class A drugs.

He began to swing punches towards the male Police Constable who, in response, made efforts to detain him. Wellman grabbed the constable in a chokehold with his legs around the officer’s torso and applied pressure to the point where he couldn’t breathe and almost lost consciousness.

The female Special Constable attempted to loosen Wellman’s grip and he retaliated by kicking her in the chest. Hospital staff assisted in prizing Wellman’s arm from the constable’s neck and detained him until the police officer was able to get up.

Wellman pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine and was sentenced to three years in prison. He also admitted three counts of assaulting an emergency worker and was jailed for a further nine months.

Detective Constable Tom Parr, who led the investigation, said: “Those officers attended a scene and did their utmost to assist by providing first-aid and taking Wellman to hospital to be checked over.

“Despite this, when found with drugs, he has punched and kicked the officers and gone so far as to strangle an officer until nurses working in the emergency department could help pry him off.

“Police officers work tirelessly to serve and protect their communities and accept that there is a level of risk involved in their jobs. But no officer should ever be assaulted in any manner, and abuse towards officers and staff will not be tolerated.

“The robust sentence passed by the court will hopefully send the message that assaults on emergency workers will never be accepted and will be dealt with seriously.

“I would like to take this opportunity to praise the officers and the hospital staff who assisted to bring the situation to a safe conclusion.”