A THUG kicked a paramedic in the neck while in an ambulance en route to hospital.

Dean Stevens spouted homophobic abuse to an unnamed paramedic, who was helping him after he collapsed in Shoreham.

The 28-year-old claimed he had been attacked.

But he left the paramedic needing to flee from the ambulance as it arrived at A&E at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

He looked at her and told her “I’m going to kill you”, Brighton Magistrates’ Court heard.

Then on his way to police custody, he attacked PC James Savill and bawled more homophobic abuse as he was found in possession of cocaine.

It was so bad PC Savill said it had made him consider his future as an officer.

In court Stevens admitted two assaults, two charges of harassment by using threatening or abusive behaviour, and possessing cocaine.

The father of three was in a “state” and was drunk, the court was told.

Suzanne Soros, prosecuting, said the incident happened on August 31 last year.

She said: “The defendant was in and out of sleep and continued to abuse the paramedic in the back of the ambulance.

“He called her a c*** and a dirty d***. He brought his face close to hers to make her feel intimidated and caused damage to the glass inside the ambulance when he kicked out.

“She was trying to hide away from him, he kicked her to the right side of the neck and shoulders.

“At hospital, she ran out of the ambulance into reception, such was her concern about the defendant.”

During his journey to police custody he kicked out at PC Savill and spouted more homophobic abuse.

PC Savill said: “I have never been subjected to such a blatant attempt to injure me. He tried to kick me in the face, he wanted to leave his mark on me.

“This is his go-to method of assault. I have never had my head turned towards leaving the job due to the actions of another until now.

“I don’t know how he thinks what he did to me or to my paramedic colleague is acceptable.”

Ms Soros said Stevens has seven previous convictions for 21 offences, including an assault on a police officer in 2013.

John Hunter, defending, said Stevens has stopped drinking since the incident.

He said his client has shown genuine remorse for the attacks.

Stevens was drunk and in a state of confusion and could not remember what happened, Mr Hunter said.

He added: “He is thoroughly ashamed of his behaviour and horrified he has acted like this, it should not have happened.

Stevens, of Little High Street, Shoreham, was given a 20-week suspended prison sentence.

He was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid community work, and to do 20 rehabilitation sessions.

District Judge Amanda Kelly ordered him to pay £250 each in compensation to Ms Waller and PC Savill.

She said: “These were members of the emergency services doing a difficult job to keep you and the public safe.

“They were abused and assaulted in a vile homophobic fashion.

“You should be ashamed about the way you behaved. It was appalling.”