TWO paramedics have spoken of their fear after a Barrow woman held a knife against her own throat and then used it to threaten them.

Rachael Sandra Jones was due to stand trial accused of affray at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court.

However at the eleventh hour she changed her plea to guilty as the two victims sat in the witness room waiting to give evidence.

Prosecutor Peter Bardsley told the court: “On February 28 paramedics attended the defendant's home address at 2.45am after a 999 call was made reporting she had overdosed on Subutex and alcohol.

"They carried out some observations and then noticed a knife next to her on the sofa.

"She picked it up and threatened her own life saying 'I can do this if I want to' and then held it against her throat."

Jones, of Raglan Court, then began waving the knife towards the two female paramedics who instantly pressed their panic buttons on their radios.

The 43-year-old then stabbed the knife into the doorframe before putting it down.

Mr Bardsley read out victim impact statements from the two paramedics.

One said: "I don't come to work expecting to fear for my own personal safety or be abused."

The second paramedic said: "I was really upset about the whole situation; I feared violence while trying to do my job and help someone.

"I was scared I was going to be hurt by Miss Jones with the knife.

"I was surprised at the level by which I was affected by this incident.

"I'm very nervous about entering someone's house; it's affected my level of trust in members of the public who need my help.

"I keep my guard up around people more now even just when sitting on someone's sofa trying to comfort someone.

"I'm a compassionate person and I go to work every day because I like helping people, I don't know why anyone would show such a level of violence towards me."

The court heard Jones has a significant criminal record including convictions for assaulting police officers, shoplifting and being drunk and disorderly.

Defence solicitor Mike Graham said Jones suffered a number of health conditions including bipolar disorder.

"She was confused why the paramedics had turned up - she had been on the phone to the crisis team and they had called 999," Mr Graham added.

Jones was given a six-month curfew requiring her to remain indoors between 6pm and 6am.

She was also ordered to complete 30 days of rehabilitation activity with the Probation Service and ordered to pay £200 costs and £100 compensation to each paramedic.