A paramedic in Shrewsbury, Shropshire was caught on camera trying to steal some cash from an elderly patient just minutes after she died.
Mark Titley, 58, was one of four paramedics called to a 94-year-old woman’s home after she collapsed in her garden on June 29, 2022.
When the team arrived at Torrin Drive, the elderly woman who lived alone received CPR and advanced life support, but died about 20 minutes later.
Titley, who has since retired as a paramedic, then enters the house to try and find a Do Not Resuscitate form, when he comes across a plastic box full of cash.
Likely believing he was out of sight, Titley, of Linley Avenue, Pontesbury, was filmed counting the cash and stuffing around £60 in his trouser pocket.
Before he can make off with the money, though, Titley spots the camera in the corner of the room and quickly replaces it.
At Shrewsbury Crown Court this Tuesday 4 April, Titley was admitted to the theft.
He initially claimed to police that he had planned to give the money to the patient’s family members for them to keep safe.
When he saw footage of the theft, the late victim’s son claimed he felt ‘sick to [his] stomach.’
It wasn’t long before the CCTV footage of the incident started to spread online, leaving even more people at a loss for words.
“Why on earth would you do something like this especially in a position of trust,” asked one horrified viewer.
“Cameras need to be in all home care facilities,” insisted a second.
The West Midlands Ambulance Service has since confirmed that Titley no longer serves as a paramedic with them, and was stood down as soon as they became aware of the incident.
A statement from the chief ambulance officer Nathan Hudson read: “Our staff will be horrified that one of their former colleagues would do something like this.
“We hold a position of trust when we enter someone’s home and these kinds of actions rightly put a stain on all of our reputations which is deeply regrettable and makes it much harder for staff who are still working.”
Titley was handed an 18-week suspended jail sentence and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £530 as well as a £187 victim surcharge.
Speaking to ITV News about Titley’s punishment, the victim’s son Mike Drage asked: “Does anybody think 120 hours of community service is actually justice for this? This is not justice. I’m going to pursue this and I’m going to ask for the courts to consider their actions. That’s the only thing I can do.”
He added: “These people within these organizations reject all their other workers who are abusive.
“He’s disgraced his fellow workers. He’s disgraced the NHS. And he’s disgraced humanity in his actions.”