Drunk Nuneaton teen who stole ambulance heart machine 'thought it was a CD player'

[dutchman]

His friend also urinated on the life-saving equipment, a court heard



A drunk teenager from Nuneaton who stole and damaged a defibrillator claimed he ‘thought it was a CD player’.

Harry Williams, 18, was filmed saying he was “about to destroy the police” as he threw the life-saving equipment in the air.

The personal trainer of Orwell Close was sentenced yesterday for stealing the defibrillator from a paramedic who was treating a man in the street outside a Hinckley nightclub.

Paramedic Michael King was tending to an injured patient on the street outside Voodoo Lounge in Hinckley at about 4am on December 4 last year.

As he passed by with two friends, Williams picked up the defibrillator, along with an electronic thermometer and other equipment worth a total of more than £17,000, and ran off with it.

Having previously pleaded guilty to theft, Williams, appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court for sentencing.

Prosecutor Sukhy Basi said Williams and his friends ran off down Regent Street in the town.

He said: “CCTV showed the defendant clearly picking up the item and running down Regent Street with two males on either side of him.”

In a nearby car park the group filmed themselves on a mobile phone. One of Williams’ friends, who has not been prosecuted, urinated on the defibrillator.

After that, Williams turned to the camera, said: “My name is Harry Williams and I’m about to destroy the police - this is what we do.”

He then threw the valuable equipment into the sky. It was later found, badly damaged with the batteries removed.

Mr Basi said that what Williams did “could have put lives at risk”.

An appeal on Facebook led to the police to Williams, of Orwell Close, Nuneaton, who refused to answer officers’ questions in interview after he was arrested on December 22.

He later pleaded guilty to the theft.

Williams was given a 20-week custodial sentence suspended for 12 months, as well as 300 hours unpaid work.

He was also told to pay £1,616.70 compensation to the East Midlands Ambulance Service.

Mark Gregory, the EMAS general manager for Leicestershire, said: “It is the appalling theft of a lifesaving piece of equipment and the disgusting act of urinating on it.

“Our staff work tirelessly to help people often in difficult circumstances and do not deserve to be treated in this way.”

Sean Keown, the local security management specialist at East Midlands Ambulance Service, said damage to vehicles and equipment was on the rise.

He said: “We are seeing an increase in criminal damage to our vehicles and equipment.

“We take a zero tolerance approach to any incidents of abuse towards our staff, and any damage caused to vehicles and equipment, and we will take action and seek prosecution such as in this case.

“The defibrillators are very expensive pieces of equipment, and Mr Williams’ actions deprived the community of that piece of lifesaving equipment until it could be cleaned and repaired.

“We appreciate that Mr Williams approached us afterward to apologise for what happened and he realises the seriousness of the situation.”

[Melisandre]

A Nuneaton 18 year old thought a defibrillator was a CD player tell me another joke let s hope he needs one some day and there is nt any available.

[rebbonk]

The perfect reason for euthanasia... And I don't support the death penalty under normal circumstances.