Paramedics pretended to be nurses to steal morphine from the terminally ill
Ruth Lambert (left) and Jessica Silvester had been every jailed for 5 years (Image: Kent Police)

A pair of paramedics who posed as nurses to steal morphine from terminally-ill sufferers have been jailed.

Ruth Lambert, 33, and Jessica Silvester, 29, labored in tandem as they preyed on a minimum of 25 folks throughout lockdown.

Utilizing their NHS jobs to realize entry to affected person info, one would seek for addresses and the opposite would go to the houses and steal.

The stolen painkillers had been prescribed to make a dying affected person’s closing days as snug as doable.

Kent Police launched an investigation in August final 12 months after receiving quite a few related reviews about distraction burglaries in Thanet, Canterbury, Whitstable, Faversham and Herne Bay.

The paramedics, who labored for the South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb), had been later arrested at their house in Margate following a housebreaking within the city.

When officers searched their house they discovered the prescribed drugs in addition to nurse uniforms and NHS laptop gear.

Ruth Lambert, 33, stole morphine and other painkillers
Ruth Lambert, 33, labored in tandem with Silvester (Image: Kent Police)

After analysing their telephones, detectives discovered they had been additionally planning to steal remedy from ambulances when on obligation and from NHS reserves.

They referred to medicine as ‘sweets’ in textual content messages and used Silvester’s NHS login 1,847 occasions within the area of three months.

The 2 additionally stored a diary, logging addresses, the medicine out there and whether or not they had been refused entry to a property.

It proved to be their downfall, permitting police to establish additional offences.

Many victims weren't conscious what had occurred till the crimes had been pieced along with the help of their households.

Jessica Silvester preyed on patients receiving end-of-life care
Jessica Silvester’s NHS login was used 1,847 occasions in simply three months (Image: Kent Police)

CCTV and telephone information additionally confirmed Lambert and Silvester had been on the scene of quite a few reported burglaries.

They had been every sentenced to 5 years in jail at Canterbury Crown Courtroom after pleading responsible.

Detective Sergeant Jay Robinson stated: ‘These offences had been an astonishing abuse of place. These two thieves, whose jobs had been to take care of these in want, had been plotting and stealing essential remedy from terminally unwell sufferers.

‘Lots of their victims have since handed away and can by no means know that justice has been completed. Our investigation was carried out, understanding we needed to signify these victims and do the perfect for them.’

Secamb’s medical director Dr Fionna Moore stated they had been ‘shocked and saddened’ on the crimes dedicated by their former workers.

She added: ‘Their behaviour was a transparent and focused abuse of their place and doesn't replicate the dedication and integrity of our workers.

‘As quickly as we grew to become conscious of the allegations, we took swift motion to droop after which dismiss each people, working carefully with Kent Police.’

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