ABC Premium News (Australia)
Copyright 2006 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
A Cairns paramedic who stole morphine from ambulance medical kits has avoided going to jail.
James Spanwick admitted to draining morphine from 19 vials and filling them with water between April and May this year.
The Magistrates Court heard the theft was discovered when a colleague went to treat a patient and noticed the vials had been tampered with.
Spanwick’s lawyer said his client had stolen the drug to cope with the stress of the job and a relationship break up.
He argued Spanwick should receive no punishment because he had served the community as paramedic for 16 years and had lost his job and reputation.
But magistrate Kerry McFadden said the defendant has abused the public’s trust and endangered patients lives.
He sentenced him to three months in jail for stealing as a servant, but suspended the sentence for two years.
Spanwick was also fined $900 for possessing a dangerous drug.