A DRUG addict who strangled a paramedic who was trying to save his life has been jailed.

Stuart Nicholson - who has more than 250 previous crimes to his name - carried out the shameless attack in the back of an ambulance after he lost consciousness in the street.

The 43-year-old of Botley Road, Oxford, has a long record of offences, and it was just last year that he was jailed after punching a medic who was treating a sick baby, along with a string of other crimes.

READ AGAIN: Drunk punched medic who was treating sick baby.

Nicholson appeared again at Oxford Crown Court yesterday, having already admitted one offence of assault by beating of an emergency worker.

Outlining the case prosecutor Robert Lindsey said the latest violent episode took place on June 22 this year in Oxford.

At about 4.30pm paramedics went to Cowley Road where Nicholson was lying unconscious.

It was believed he had taken the illegal drug Spice and on regaining consciousness he was taken into an ambulance to go the John Radcliffe Hospital.

The victim - paramedic Luke Drummond - was in the back with Nicholson when his condition started to 'deteriorate.'

When he tried to give his patient life-saving oxygen Nicholson 'lunged' at him, before grabbing his victim around the neck.

He went on to 'strangle' the paramedic, which led to a scrape to his neck.

The driver stopped the ambulance to help his colleague and Nicholson was arrested after the police arrived.

At interview he claimed he had 'blacked out' and couldn't remember the incident.

In a victim personal statement read to the court Mr Drummond said the incident had led to him suffering with anxiety.

He said: "I am fearful it will happen again.

"My job role is to help people and it has made me extremely worried because at the time I was trying to bring [Nicholson] back to life.

"My main fear is [he] will do this again."

Prosecutors also revealed that Nicholson has a long history of previous convictions, made up of 96 convictions for 251 offences.

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In mitigation Emma Hornby said her client was 'just shocked and appalled by his own behaviour.'

She added that Nicholson had been a drug addict for some 25 years.

Sentencing, Judge Michael Gledhill QC said he believed Nicholson had been 'under charged' and the incident could have been put forward as a more serious offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Nicholson was jailed for eight months and he must pay a statutory victim surcharge.