Ministry of Justice adviser punched paramedic in the head

A Ministry of Justice adviser punched a paramedic who tried to help him when he fell over in the street after an exclusive private members’ Christmas party.   

Senior economic guru Andrew Meads was seen staggering around Kensington, on 17 December after drinks at the Oxford and Cambridge Club Annual.

The 52-year-old was then found by paramedic Craig Cassidy, slumped on the curb with a gash above his eye and a blood-stained shirt.

But as he tried to treat him, Meads attacked Mr Cassidy in an alcohol-fuelled rage. 

He told Mr Cassidy: ‘F*** off, I want to go home. If you do not leave me alone I will f***** punch you.’

Police handcuffed Meads and helped to bundle him into the back of an ambulance.

But as Mr Cassidy freed Meads’ hands in order to treat him, Meads leant forward and punched the paramedic to the right temple.

As PC Nikhil Patel restrained him again Meads screamed: ‘Take these f****** handcuffs off or I will f****** kill you.’ 

Married Meads, who lives in an £800,000 home in Surrey, admitted assaulting an emergency worker, being drunk and disorderly in a public place and using insulting words to cause alarm.

He represented himself at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Senior economic guru Andrew Meads was seen staggering around Kensington, on 17 December after drinks at the Oxford and Cambridge Club Annual

The York and Bath University graduate formally worked at the treasury but has been employed by the Ministry of Justice since 2014.

Meads told the court he ‘used to go out four or five times a week but has reduced this to only a few nights year.’

On the night he attacked the paramedic he told the court he had met a friend he ‘had not spoken to for 30 years and became so engrossed in a long conversation he lost track of what he was drinking.’

Before he left the club, he ‘felt the room getting hot’ and then said he could not remember anything until the police interview.

He said: ‘I have a stressful job it has been stressful now for two years. It was the end of a very stressful day.

‘I came in that day as part of me job to do some work – some legislation. I had a huge amount of stuff dumped on me. My day particularly in the afternoon became extremely stressful.’

Meads said he has no idea why he reacted in the way he did.

He added: ‘I was horrified with myself. It was like somebody else being described. I had no idea why I was doing it.’

Meads admitted assaulting an emergency worker, being drunk and disorderly in a public place and using insulting words to cause alarm

Meads has one previous conviction from 2003 for driving while over the limit for which he received a disqualification and a community order. 

Mr Cassidy said: ‘I feel upset, whilst I was trying to help because he was clearly in need. It will make me wary of helping others.’

PC Patel added: ‘In so far as the offence is concerned, I am angry that Mr Meads has threatened to kill me – I come out to work to help people.’ 

Meads, from Reigate, will return to the court on January 17 for sentence.