Jury discharged in case of paramedic accused of assaulting woman in back of ambulance

A JURY has been discharged after failing to reach a decision in the case of an ambulance medic accused of sexually touching a patient in the back of a West Yorkshire ambulance.
Dale Kirby, 34, arrives at Leeds Crown Court. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyDale Kirby, 34, arrives at Leeds Crown Court. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Dale Kirby, 34, arrives at Leeds Crown Court. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

Dale Kirby, 34, an emergency medical technician, had denied two counts of assault by penetration.

The jury at Leeds Crown Court spent around eight hours deliberating the case before being discharged by Judge Mushtaq Khokhar today.

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The alleged victim, who was 18 at the time of the alleged attack in Huddersfield, in November, 2014, claimed Kirby put his hand inside her knickers while she was lying drunk on a stretcher and sexually touched her with his fingers.

Kirby claimed he only touched her on one occasion and that was while he was trying to cover her up.

He told a court the movement within the ambulance led to him losing his balance and his hand landed on her upper leg.

A decision is to be made in the future as to whether there will be a retrial.