A man who punched a paramedic in the head as during treatment has been given a two-year community order.

The patient carried out the attack as members of South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) NHS Trust tried to help him in Worthing on September 15 2009.

The incident is one of a number of successful prosecutions the trust has had in the last year.

Other cases include a man who was sentenced to eight weeks in prison for assault after attacking a member of staff attempting to treat him in Bognor on January 30 2009. A woman who kicked and punched medics who responded to her call in Crawley on February 13 was given a community order and ordered to pay compensation.

A patient was also given a penalty notice for a public order offence after becoming verbally abusive and violent towards a crew in Brighton on June 14 2009. Another patient was cautioned for common assault after swearing and punching a member of staff at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on April 3 2010.

113 assaults were reported by staff between April 2009 and March 2010 and the trust has achieved 37 successful convictions.

The figure is an increase of on last year’s total of 35.

SECAmb’s local security management specialist David Dixon said: “Where possible we will always work with the police and Crown Prosecution Service to achieve the highest possible sanctions against these individuals and will also, where necessary, explore alternative measures available to us such as private prosecutions, civil action and ASBOs which can be taken against those who threaten staff.”