Man admits taking ambulance with patient inside

11 hours ago

Alex McIntyreWest Midlands

Marshall Leese, 32, admitted multiple offences following the incident in March

Staffordshire Police A police mugshot of a man with short black hair, a tiny crucifix tattoo on his right cheek, a short beard and a grey top. — Marshall Leese, 32, admitted multiple offences following the incident in March

A man who stole an ambulance with a patient and paramedic inside has admitted false imprisonment and aggravated vehicle taking.

Marshall Leese, 32, took the vehicle from outside the Royal Stoke University Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent at about 20:15 GMT on 25 March.

Police pursued him until he stopped at a petrol station on the A34 in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. A second ambulance was sent to recover the patient.

Leese, of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, also pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen and driving without insurance at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. He was remanded into custody and the case adjourned for sentencing on a date yet to be fixed.

Judge Sally Hancox described the incident as "unusual".

West Midlands Ambulance Service previously said a second ambulance was sent to where Leese stopped to recover the patient and take them back to hospital.

A welfare check was also carried out on the staff member to "maintain their wellbeing", a spokesperson added.

Staffordshire Police said the ambulance was parked in a triage bay in run lock mode, which keeps the vehicle running but allows the keys to be taken out of the ignition.

Leese climbed into the ambulance and drove away while the paramedic was treating the patient in the back.

The vehicle, which cuts out after a period of time in run lock mode, was tracked by officers before it was abandoned at the Esso petrol station in the Chesterton area of Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Leese then ran off into the nearby woodland but was found by police dog Foxy, the force said, and he was bitten on the hand when he failed to comply with instructions.

He initially denied the offences, claiming he had been cycling in the area, looking for a friend, when he was approached by the dog.

Following his guilty pleas, Det Con Lili Rose Gregory said: "This incident could have ended very differently and I'm pleased that no-one was hurt as a result of Leese's actions."