The Victorian Premier has urged the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider appealing a magistrate's decision not to jail a man who had assaulted emergency workers in Melbourne while in a "psychotic state" after taking a cocktail of drugs.

Key points: James Haberfield punched the paramedic in the face and put her in a headlock

James Haberfield punched the paramedic in the face and put her in a headlock She has not been able to work since the traumatic attack

She has not been able to work since the traumatic attack Magistrate Simon Zebrowski said jailing Haberfield would have a "disproportionate and catastrophic effect" on his future

James Haberfield assaulted the paramedic, who wished to be only named as Monica, after consuming "a cornucopia" of drugs at the Rainbow Serpent festival in western Victoria in January.

The 22-year-old became the first person under new Victorian laws to be slapped with a compulsory treatment order for attacking emergency workers.

But in a move that infuriated emergency workers, Haberfield avoided a minimum six-month jail term also required under the new laws, which came into effect last October.

Monica, who cried in court as the sentence was delivered, has not returned to work since the attack and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety.

Paramedic 'Monica' cried in court as her attacker was sentenced. ( AAP: Julian Smith )

Paramedic punched, put in headlock

Victorian Ambulance Union secretary Danny Hill said emergency workers had received the message that the courts did not have their backs.

"Will it take the death of a paramedic before the Government takes action?" he said after the sentencing.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) should urgently consider appealing the sentence.

"Our thoughts are with the victims of this completely unacceptable attack," he said in a statement.

Melbourne Magistrates' Court was told Haberfield went missing in an "acutely psychotic state" after the four-day alternative music and arts festival, during which he'd consumed "a cocktail of drugs" including ice, MDMA and ketamine.

The university student knocked on the door of a Coburg home, walking inside and terrifying the residents, who were unknown to him.

When the ambulance arrived to collect him, Haberfield punched the paramedic in the face and put her in a headlock and squeezed and pinned her to the rear corner of the ambulance.

Fellow paramedic Sam Smith avoided Haberfield's punches, pressed the vehicle's duress button and sedated the youth.

The Government's mandatory sentencing laws were introduced after a public campaign from paramedics. ( Twitter: Danny Hill )

Jail would have 'catastrophic effect' on offender

Haberfield stayed in hospital for more than a week receiving treatment.

Monica suffered whiplash to her head and neck, a hematoma and swelling to her cheek, as well as her psychological trauma.

Magistrate Simon Zebrowski said Haberfield's impaired mental state that day was not solely due to self-inflicted intoxication as he had pre-existing autism spectrum disorder and a major depressive disorder.

He said Haberfield, in a psychotic state, had a delusional belief his safety was at risk after the "cornucopia of illicit drugs" he had ingested.

A psychiatric expert said he would be at "acute risk" of suicide in jail.

Mr Zebrowski said sending the "mortified, dismayed and deeply ashamed" young man to jail "would have a disproportionate and catastrophic effect" on his future.

"The message needs to be sent to the community that emergency workers are not punching bags," he said, before giving Haberfield an 18-month community corrections order including mental health and drug treatment.

In May last year, the Government said it would seek to tighten the mandatory sentencing law for attacks on emergency services workers after paramedic Paul Judd's attacker was spared prison on appeal.

In September, it introduced new laws which tightened the grounds on which judges were able to impose non-prison sentences for emergency worker assaults.

The Government said the laws included provision to ensure that "if impaired mental functioning is relied upon because it will make imprisonment more risky or burdensome, this must be materially and substantially greater than usual".

AAP / ABC