The 42-year-old woman was assaulted as she was treating Stuart Stokes for a foot injury.

It was as the paramedic – who has asked to be known as Mary, not her real name – was taking her patient's blood pressure that he groped her.

Stokes, 22, formerly of Bute Avenue in North Shore, Blackpool, yesterday pleaded guilty to sexual assault when he appeared at Preston Crown Court yesterday.

Mary spoke about her experiences as part of the launch of the North West Ambulance Service's Stop Abuse campaign - on the same day her attacker was sentenced.

Mary admits she now treats patients differently following the attack.

She said: "It will always be there at the back of my mind. Although what happened to me was quite minor in terms of assault, it was so out of the blue.

"I've been on the road with the service for four years and nothing like this has happened to me before.

"You come to work to do your job and you don't expect to be assaulted.

"It had a big effect on me. It has made me more wary and suspicious.

"For quite a while, I did not enjoy coming to work and I usually love my job.

"I am certainly now more aware of what can happen. I tend to look out for my colleagues now and watch for signs of trouble."

Stokes, now of Plymouth, was sentenced to a community order for two years with supervision.

He must also attend a programme to address substance-related offending and has been placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for five years.

Stokes, who had been drinking that night, was told by the judge: "It was unpleasant drunken groping by someone in a bad temper and you took advantage of the situation that presented itself."

When interviewed, the court heard, Stokes said he was "too drunk to remember and apologised".

Paul Humphries, defending, said it had been "the biggest wake up call in his life."

Mary now hopes to put the incident behind her.

She said: "Even though it was 12 months ago, the court case has only just finished, but I am hoping to be able to put it behind me now he has been sentenced.

"I am pleased he has been sentenced as a punishment, as well as being put on the Sex Offenders' Register. I'm glad he has been brought to justice.

"Hopefully now I can put it behind me, but it will always be at the back of my mind and I will always be more on my guard."

Fylde ambulance boss Dave Rigby said: "I think it's good the courts took this seriously and it sends out the right message – that you cannot assault members of the emergency services and if you do, you will be brought to justice.

"Alcohol is not an excuse."