A THUG threw bricks at two ambulances and shattered windscreens as shocked paramedics returned to Royal Blackburn Hospital A&E.

Keiron McKillop, 29, jumped out in front of the ambulances on two occasions before attacking their vehicles, a court was told.

In one of the incidents one of the crew members was hit by the flying glass.

And during an outburst in the dock as he was jailed, McKillop said: “I tried to kill someone.”

Sessions House Court in Preston heard how paramedic Richard Pells was driving back to Royal Blackburn Hospital in an ambulance on Friday, April 30 at about 10pm.

He was driving in Haslingden Road, at the junction with Shadsworth Road when McKillop ran into the road in front of the ambulance, causing Mr Pells to slam on the brakes.

Prosecuting, Laura Broon, said that at first, Mr Pells thought that McKillop was trying to flag the ambulance down until he saw him with a brick in his hand.

McKillop threw the brick at the ambulance smashing the windscreen, showering one paramedic with glass.

He picked it back up and threw it again, this time hitting the bonnet of the ambulance, with Mr Pells saying he was in a “state of shock”.

McKillop walked to the driver’s side, with Mr Pells worried he was going to try to get in the vehicle.

He reversed the ambulance back and drove around McKillop to get away.

Ms Broon said: “Mr Pells describes the instant shock saying it was completely unprovoked. He believes it was an attack on the North West Ambulance Service.”

The same night, Lois Martin was sitting in the passenger side of a different ambulance as it approached the same roundabout.

McKillop again walked into the road in front of the ambulance, with Ms Martin first believing that the defendant was trying to injure himself.

He then put his hand in the air with Ms Martin believing he was flagging the ambulance down – she then noticed he had a brick in his hand, above his head.

Worried about him throwing the brick, Ms Martin tried to protect herself when the brick hit the windscreen.

The ambulance driver went around the roundabout, avoiding McKillop before stopping slightly further down the road where police had arrived.

While interviewed by police, McKillop said ‘it was attempted murder what I done’.

Defending, Isobel Thomas said that McKillop, of Every Street, Burnley, offered no mitigation but she spoke of a psychiatric report which showed he suffers with psychosis.

He has been given medication which he is taking in prison.

Judge Sara Dodd said that McKillop was a danger to the public and she had no option than to jail him.

In an outburst in the dock, McKillop said: “You’re psychotic, you lot tried to kill me, I don’t care who’s saying what – at the end of the day I should be dead.”

He also asked: “How much would I get for murder?” after asking if he could see the Judge after the sentencing, which she declined.

Judge Dodd said: “You are still only 29 but you have been convicted of 72 previous offences.

“At the root of your offending is your psychosis and it is right to consider you have been involved with mental health services.

“There is clearly pattern in your offending.

“You are of harm to the public and emergency service workers – especially ambulance staff who are already working a great deal harder due to the pandemic.”

McKillop was sentenced to three years in prison for causing danger to road users.

He will serve at least half of his sentence before he can be released.