Lib Dem AM Mick Bates demoted amid assault probe
Lib Dem leaders in Wales were already investigating claims about Mr Bates's behaviour after he ended up in casualty on a night out.
The Montgomeryshire AM was taken to hospital by ambulance after he fell over and split his head while drinking in Cardiff on January 20.
Media reports about his alleged subsequent behaviour sparked an internal inquiry by the party which said it took the matter "extremely seriously".
Welsh party leader Kirsty Williams said she was trying to establish the facts and had already spoken to the AM.
She said yesterday he had apologised for the incident but her understanding was that he had been knocked unconscious and suffered serious head injuries.
Fresh allegations emerged today claiming Mr Bates had assaulted a paramedic who had come to his assistance.
As a result the party issued a brief statement this morning.
"Following a conversation between Kirsty Williams and Mick Bates they have agreed that he will be relieved of his frontbench duties and his chair of the sustainability committee whilst this matter is being investigated," it said.
"We have informed the University Health Board and Ambulance Service that both Mick and the party will fully cooperate with any investigations."
The allegations which emerged yesterday centred on claims that Mr Bates had been verbally abusive.
The new allegations today come from a paramedic who attended him at Charlestons Brasserie in Cardiff in the early hours of January 20.
The paramedic, who does not want to be named, is reported to have said the crew found Mr Bates had a minor head wound.
He claimed he suffered the injury when he fell down the stairs at the restaurant while he was being ejected from the premises.
Outside, Mr Bates was alleged to have delivered a tirade of verbal abuse and punched the paramedic in the chest while he was trying to give him first aid.
It is also claimed that a police officer was called to the ambulance to give Mr Bates a warning.
It is alleged his abusive behaviour continued after being taken to the A&E unit at the University Hospital of Wales, where he was kept under observation by security.
"When the ambulance got there, the male was very aggressive, verbally aggressive, lashing out with both arms, telling us to clear off," the paramedic is reported to have said.
"On trying to obtain observations on the gentleman, he's grabbed out at a jacket, punched myself to the chest and grabbed my colleague's wrists."
He said that, when it was decided to take him to hospital, Mr Bates resisted attempts to put him in the ambulance in a wheelchair.
He added: "We arrived at the (University of Wales Hospital) with him still swearing, being abusive and, again, in the hospital, he had to be babysat in the centre of the resuscitation area by security due to his behaviour."
It was also reported that the paramedic intended to press charges in connection with the assault.
South Wales Police confirmed they were looking at the circumstances surrounding an alleged incident in Cardiff city centre.
"It is too early to offer any further comment on the matter," a spokeswoman said.
A spokesman for the union Unison, which represents many health workers, said he was unable to comment on the particular case.
"All I can say is that within our society today there are people who feel that they can assault and abuse hard-working NHS staff.
"Despite efforts to reduce such attacks it seems to be on the increase. That is a sad inditcment of the society we live in today."
Nobody was available for comment at Charlestons Brasserie in Cardiff.
