A Greenford man who slashed the tyres of an ambulance during a medical emergency while high on heroin and 'spice' has been spared jail.

Paul Johnson cut the ambulance tyres with a five inch kitchen knife on July 2 while paramedics paramedics treated a critically injured pedestrian following a road accident, near Greenford Roundabout on the A40.

Met police officers doused the 44-year-old with a pepper spray before they could restrain him.

Uxbridge Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday (July 26) that the defendant was high on the Class A drug heroin and 'spice' - a synthetic cannabis - when he was arrested at around 11.30pm the same day.

Johnson, of Middleton Avenue, admitted criminal damage but claimed he had taken the blade to a field to commit suicide by slashing his wrists.

He also admitted obstruction of a police officer and possession of a blade.

The victim of the road accident remains in a serious condition in hospital, magistrates heard.

The court heard that Johnson was "deeply remorseful" but he escaped with a 26-week suspended sentence.

He was also ordered to pay £115 court costs plus £100 towards the cost of the tyres.

Robert Layton, representing Johnson, said Johnson had battled with depression for more than two decades and had attempted suicide a number of times.

He said: "[Mr Johnson] is deeply remorseful for what happened.

"He has suffered from depression since being badly injured in a work accident at the age of 22, and has not been able to work since.

"Mr Johnson has attempted suicide on a number of occasions, including an attempt to crash his motorcycle in order to kill himself."