Scumwatch Update

In Ashton-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester:

A pensioner died from a heart attack after mindless yobs blocked in and attacked the ambulance called to help him.

Paramedics rushed to help the 75-year-old man, who has not been named, after he collapsed playing bowls with friends at a social club.

But as they loaded the man into the ambulance, three youths blocked the car park exit with their motorbikes, stopping it from leaving for hospital.

And the terrified ambulance crew were briefly chased away from the scene as the gang yelled abuse at them and pelted the vehicle with stones.

Police have launched an investigation after it emerged that the man died in hospital after the ambulance was delayed for at least five minutes.

Five minutes may not seem a particularly long time. But, I would imagine that in a case such as this, every second is vital. We cannot be sure whether this man would have lived or died had the ambulance not been delayed, but his chances of survival would surely have been higher.

And, in any event, what manner of worthless creatures attack paramedics as they respond to a 999 call? I would imagine that even most of the low-life and thugs that I occasionally have cause to write about would shy away from doing something like that. The subhuman vermin in this story really are particularly depraved.

I also wonder, since children do not generally go straight from being good kids to attacking ambulances, what the antecedents of these low-lifes are? I would imagine that there must be at least something of a pattern of indiscipline at school and in the community, even if they do not actually have criminal records. One has to say, that if such filth were brought up better, were taught to behave in school, and were dealt with harshly by the police and the local community when they did show signs of coming off the rails, then they probably wouldn't have ended up the way they have. But, of course, I doubt that anyone has ever tried to teach them respect, nor given them a clip round the ear. They are the bastard children (in any sense you like) of a society which on the one hand pampers young thugs, and on the other hand punishes anyone who dares to stand up to them.

I would hope that after this, they will be dealt with very severely. But, knowing our "justice" system, I hope to see this, but do not expect to.