Brawling paramedic who was caught with cocaine is 'truly sorry'

An East Yorkshire paramedic caught with cocaine after brawling with two men outside a nightclub has been given a formal caution.

Mark Winkley, 40, was out with colleagues after attending a course to become a trade union steward for Unison.

Winkley pleaded guilty to two charges of common assault and for possession of cocaine in January 2010 at Hull Magistrates' Court and was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Now, Winkley, who still works with the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, has admitted his fitness to practice was impaired when he appeared before the Health Professions Council in central London.

He said: "I am truly sorry for what I have done, I can, hand on heart, say it will never happen again."

Winkley said he took "a little line" of the cocaine after a few drinks before attacking the men who yelled insults at him.

Julie Matheson, for the HPC, said: "This was an assault in public, it was after a work-related course and Mr Winkley was in possession of a class A drug.

"This is certainly not behaviour expected of a paramedic."

Winkley was given a final written warning but allowed to keep his job at an internal disciplinary hearing.

He was given a two-year caution after he persuaded the panel he was "truly remorseful" for his actions.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503342/s/12cc2997/l/0L0Sthisishullandeastriding0O0Cnews0CBrawling0Eparamedic0Ecaught0Ecocaine0Carticle0E32380A860Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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