By Elwyn Roberts
Daily Post
CAERGWRLE, UK — A drunk joy rider who drove off in an ambulance - while the driver was on an emergency call saving a man’s life — has been jailed.
John Heesom, 23 — who had downed nine pints of lager and some shots — was told that his actions had potentially put the lives of other people at risk. As a result of his actions, the rapid response vehicle, which was in full ambulance livery, was written off and vital life-saving equipment and drugs had to be destroyed, leaving the Wales Ambulance Trust with a £5,700 compensation bill.
Heesom, of ye Old Talbot Inn at Cymau between Mold and Wrexham, was jailed for eight months and banned from driving for two years by Judge Rhys Rowlands, sitting at Mold Crown Court yesterday.
“You took an ambulance rapid response vehicle. After you lost control and damaged it, your first reaction was to try and set it alight.”
Judge Rowlands said such vehicles carried out a “crucially important task” in the community. The defendant’s actions had prevented it being used again that night and prevented the paramedic from continuing with his duties: “That put people’s lives at risk,” he added.
Emmalyne Downing, prosecuting, said Heesom was walking home when he noticed the Ford Focus estate car in full ambulance service livery parked with its ignition keys still inside.
The driver had been called to an ill man’s house, had rushed in with a defibrillator and drugs and had called out an ambulance crew to take the patient to hospital. But when the ambulance crew arrived, the rapid response vehicle had disappeared from outside the house at the village of Caergwrle in Flintshire. Heesom jumped in and drove off — but hit a kerb and then drove on the rim of one of the wheels as the tyre disintegrated.
Heesom admitted aggravated vehicle taking, drink driving and a driving licence offence after he took the vehicle from Hope Street in Caergwrle in the early hours of Sunday, February 24.
He was found to have an breath alcohol reading of 60 microgrammes, compared to the legal limit of 35, and told police how he had been drinking in Hope and Caergwrle and had about nine pints of lager and some shots.
Heesom claimed that he had not realised that it was an ambulance vehicle but the judge said that he did not accept that.
Oliver King, defending, stressed that his client was a young man of no previous convictions, who was embarrassed and ashamed.He had been shunned in the small community in which he lived, and was full of remorse.
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