THE Office of Public Prosecutions is taking the rare step of appealing a sentence handed down to a man who attacked two paramedics, arguing the outcome was too lenient.
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He was involved in another incident in Albury about three weeks before being sentenced where he intimidated two police officers and destroyed property.
The paramedics in the Wahgunyah incident had been called to Granthams Bend on November 17 and Harding tried to punch one paramedic before targeting the other.
A fire extinguisher was used in an attempt to stop the alcohol-fuelled attack.
Harding jumped into the nearby river and was arrested, and was jailed in NSW for parole breaches.
Magistrate Ian Watkins decided against jailing the 26-year-old last month and instead fined him and ordered he perform 300 hours of unpaid community work.
His lawyer Sally Wilson conceded jail was "within range" but the court heard Harding had been undergoing rehabilitation, and had PTSD and significant mental health issues
Mr Watkins said many people in the community would think his "terrifying" offending deserved jail time.
"In my view that is extremely serious offending," he said.
"Every member of the community is entitled to feel safe when they go to work.
"That particularly applies to emergency workers."
The community would be "appalled and disgusted" at such behaviour, the magistrate said, but said sentencing was a balancing act.
He said it was in Harding's interest, and the community's interest, that he not go to prison hand have his life monitored in the community for the next two years.
A spokesman for the OPP said a date hadn't been set for the appeal, which will go to the higher County Court.
"The ground is that it is an inadequate sentence," the spokesman said.
