An opportunist thief, who stole life-saving drugs from an ambulance as paramedics rushed an ill patient into hospital, was jailed yesterday.
John Byrne was at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for treatment at the time, but was having a cigarette outside the A&E department when the ambulance crew arrived.
The paramedics didn’t have time to shut the doors and 39-year-old Byrne, of Gordon Place, Fearn in Easter Ross, took the opportunity to grab a green pouch.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard it contained vital drugs for heart attack patients, including blood thinners.
Byrne subsequently crept inside a toilet within the hospital, removed the medication, hid the pouch behind the cistern and returned to the cubicle where he was being treated.
However, fiscal depute Laura Ryan said the crew quickly realised the bag was missing and the police were called.
Byrne was eventually searched and was arrested on February 15 this year.
Yesterday, he admitted the theft and was jailed for eight months.
Defending solicitor Rory Gowans said: “It was a disgraceful act. It could have had significant consequences stealing this medication, but I am informed it didn’t.
“This was a spectacular relapse into drug addiction, there are some mental health concerns and he is due to see a psychiatrist soon.”
Sentencing Byrne, Sheriff David Sutherland told him: “By any standards, this is a serious offence. Anyone who steals medication from an ambulance has to accept the consequences.
“I am told you stole medication which could have been used for people having heart attacks. These are required by ambulances going to an emergency.
“The consequences of your actions were thankfully discovered before anything like that took place.
“But the crew could have been called to an emergency before the theft was noticed.”