Thief walked off with paramedic’s defibrillator while they treated patient

Samuel Conyers, who had been on a night out, grabbed the bag containing the valuable medical device while paramedics were helping their patient into an ambulance last month.

Conyers, of Longley Gardens, Greetland, admitted a charge of theft on the basis that he had stolen the bag without knowing what was in it.

Prosecutor John Bull told Bradford Crown Court today (Friday) that the ambulance staff had been dealing with an incident in the Silver Street area in the early hours and the bag had been left unattended.

“The defendant, who was passing by at the time, saw the item on the street and simply picked it up and took it with him,” said Mr Bull.

Conyers left the area in a taxi, but the police were able to trace him and when they went to the property the defendant was arrested after a short chase and the defibrillator was found abandoned in the garden.

Mr Bull said he was not aware of any damage having caused to the equipment.

Judge Peter Benson accepted that Conyers’ behaviour had been “opportunistic” and the circumstances of the theft were somewhat unusual.

Judge Benson said it was clear that the defendant was affected by drink at the time, but had stolen a valuable and important piece of medical equipment.

The judge told Conyers that his prison sentence of six months could be suspended for two years, but he would also have complete a rehabilitation a toth requirement of up to 35 days.