THE sentence given to Paul Ashworth must be welcomed today.

Ashworth was found slumped in Burnley town centre and paramedics came to his aid. But, as he was being driven to the Royal Blackburn Hospital, he became abusive to the very people who were trying to help him. In the disgraceful incident, he repeatedly kicked a cupboard before urinating in the ambulance.

Not only did his actions show astonishing disrepect to the paramedics, but the ambulance itself was taken off the road for more than a day. It took three hours to clean up the urine, and another day to replace the cupboard.

That means that Ashworth's terrible actions could have potentially put lives at risk.

Paramedics, police, firefighters and nurses are there to help.

Yet more and more they seem to be coming under attack.

And that is why this sentence should be welcomed.

Ashworth pleaded guilty to the relatively low-level crime of criminal damage.

But magistrates recognised they needed to send a message so he was jailed for a fortnight.

Let's hope the sentence sends out a strong message that such behaviour is not welcome.