A THIEF who stole and damaged emergency medical equipment from an ambulance has been spared jail.

Gareth Richard Pye admitted causing £70 worth of damage to paramedics’ medical bags when he stole them from an ambulance attending a call in Coundon on January 17.

The 24-year-old, of Buckingham Terrace, Leeholme, in Bishop Auckland, also pleaded guilty to another charge of theft after stealing two bottles of vodka, worth £75, at the town’s Asda supermarket when he appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court on Wednesday (February 10).

John Garside, prosecuting, said the ambulance was responding to an emergency call at an address in Coundon when Pye removed several bags from the vehicle.

He was chased from the scene but got away and was arrested after being identified and traced.

Mr Garside said Pye cooperated with the police and told them where the two bags were hidden.

“When interviewed he admitted responsibility for the thefts, saying he was having a hard time with a heroin addiction,” he said.

“In the ambulance he said he did not know what he was thinking. He said he was ‘rattling’ having had no heroin that day and he was desperate.”

Probation officer, Craig McGuire, told the court how Pye’s parents had split in November and he had recently split from his long term partner, who he has a three-month-old daughter with.

With little contact with his daughter over Christmas, Pye then turned to his brother who, the court was told, “looked after him by giving him drink and drugs”.

“He understands the public’s reaction because he had his windows put out as a result of this and it’s not lost with him how serious this could have been,” Mr McGuire added.

Andrew Clinton, mitigating, said the offending was an “inexplicable cry for help”.

"He needs some support which is what he has asked for," he said.

"It's when he gets together with his brother that things go downhill for him."

Magistrate Alastair White, sentenced Pye to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months and ordered him to pay £75 compensation to Asda, £70 to the Ambulance Service as well as £85 in costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

He also gave him a 12-month community order with 15 rehabilitation days.

Mr White said: “Theft from an ambulance we see very seriously and in any other circumstances you would have been going to jail.”

As he was leaving court, Pye said: "I'm going to sort my head out. Thank you for understanding."