Man jailed after assaulting paramedics and police in Bishop’s Waltham

A man who assaulted paramedics and police officers who had been called to treat him has been jailed for 32 weeks.

Gavin Gustar, 48, called an ambulance to his home on High Street in Bishop’s Waltham on 5 March. However, when paramedics arrived to assist him, Gustar became aggressive and attacked one of the crew.

He grabbed, squeezed and twisted the paramedic’s arm before spitting in his face twice.

Police were called to the address and Gustar was subsequently taken to Royal Hampshire County Hospital. While at the hospital he continued to behave violently, repeatedly grabbing the hands of attending officers and twisting the hand of one officer during the incident.

Gustar appeared before Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 9 March, where he pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting a police officer and one count of assaulting an emergency worker.

He was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison, with a further 12 weeks added after a previously suspended sentence was activated, bringing the total sentence to 32 weeks’ imprisonment.

The suspended sentence had been imposed in November 2025 following a similar incident on 3 October, when health professionals attended Gustar’s address. On that occasion he punched and spat on a paramedic, before threatening and kicking police officers who arrived afterwards.

Following the latest sentencing, George Gissing, of the Winchester Priority Crime Team, said:

“Gustar has shown a repeated pattern of violent behaviour towards emergency services – paramedics and police officers simply going about their duties and making efforts to treat him and ensure his safety.

Assaults against emergency workers are never simply part of the job, and will never be tolerated. The emergency services are there to help people in their time of need and keep the community safe. They should never have to turn up to work in fear of their own safety, or be subjected to threats, aggression and violence.”