A Queensland Rail protection officer who broke the finger of a paramedic as he tried to kick the man in the face has today been sentenced to 12 months’ jail for the shocking attack on the front line emergency services worker. More than four years ago, Shaun Patrick Blackley, 39, was found lying on the road at Kelvin Grove with a bleeding arm. Local residents called an ambulance and paramedic Mark Northfield was the first to arrive on scene. After Blackley was transferred to hospital and was being unloaded from the stretcher by Mr Northfield, the man kicked his right leg out, aiming for the father-of-three’s head, Brisbane court today heard. Mr Northfield put his hands up to protect his face from the blow when he “heard his finger snap”, the Brisbane District Court was told on Thursday. The shocking details of the attack were aired during a sentencing hearing after Blackley pleaded guilty to the serious assault of a public officer in June 2014. Blackley was sentenced to 12 months’ jail but released on parole immediately for the attack on the man the court said was “simply trying to help”. Blackley was also ordered to pay $3,000 in compensation.
