A former police officer who sexually assaulted a paramedic responding to a 999 call has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Sentencing Okan Sahin, who touched the woman between the legs, was Judge Rupert Overbury at Ipswich Crown Court.

He said: “Anyone working for the emergency services, as you have done in the past, especially as ambulance personnel, who have to deal with drunks and people who are being violent, have a difficult enough time already without being subjected to violence or sexual assaults from those they are trying to help.”

Judge Overbury said the offence crossed the custody threshold but he was able to pass a suspended sentence after reading medical reports on him.

Sahin, 46, of Rose Cottage, Lark’s Lane, Chelmsford, admitted sexually assaulting the female paramedic on August 25 last year. He was given a four month prison sentence suspended for 12 months and ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work.

He was also given a five day rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years.

Nicola May, prosecuting, said paramedics who went to a flat in response to an emergency call were unable to get entry and requested help from the fire service.

Entry was eventually gained through a window and Sahin was found lying naked on a bed in an intoxicated state.

It was decided he needed to go to hospital and during the ambulance journey he had “grabbed” the woman paramedic between the legs. She pushed him away and threatened to call the police if he did it again, said Miss May.

In an impact statement the victim said the incident had caused her to question her decision to become a paramedic.

The court heard that Sahin, who has no previous convictions, had been in a “very unhappy place” at the time of the assault and had drunk a substantial amount of alcohol as well as self-medicating.

“This led to him behaving in an entirely unacceptable way,” said Drea Becker for Sahin.

She said Sahin was very ashamed of his behaviour and had no recollection of what happened.

She said he had £62,000 debts and was the sole provider for his family.

Miss Becker said Sahin had trained as a police officer and worked as a police officer between 2011-2012 and was on duty during the London riots.