Drunk fined for stealing from ambulance after being hit by a car (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Drunk fined for stealing from ambulance after being hit by a car in Mortlake

2:38pm Monday 4th March 2013 in News By Amy Dyduch

A man has been fined after he drunkenly ran in front of a car in Mortlake, stole medical equipment from the ambulance that then treated him and shoved it down his pants.

Joseph Meider, 19, was fined £300 at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court on February 27 after he pleaded guilty to theft.

After drinking Stella Artois and cognac all day with a friend on February 5, Meider ran in front of a car in North Road, Mortlake.

Angela Williams, prosecuting, said: “He left his friend’s flat and went to the shop. He ran across the road in front of a car. He couldn’t remember why he had run away.”

The London Ambulance Service (LAS) treated Meider, but he stole a blood sugar monitor worth £100 while sitting in the back.

Mrs Williams said: “When he and his friend were in the back getting treatment he remembered stealing a little black bag. He didn’t know why. He said he was sorry.”

The police were called by LAS and Meider was arrested in Mortlake Road, where the blood sugar monitor was recovered.

Mrs Williams said: “When the police arrived they saw Meider concealing something down his pants. They saw testing straps down his jeans and he was arrested.”

Andrew Moxon, defending, said Meider, who has previously worked at Richmond boatyard, was in an “intoxicated state”.

He said: “He had been drinking quite a lot that day. He is not somebody who drinks regularly. He doesn’t have any drink or drugs problems.”

He said Meider, of Howsman Road in Barnes, did not know why he took the item and was sorry for the inconvenience it caused to the ambulance service.