Two paramedics, Ruth Lambert, 33, and Jessica Silvester, 29, have been sentenced to prison for stealing painkillers from terminally ill patients in Kent. The pair exploited their roles to prey on vulnerable patients receiving end-of-life care.
Lambert and Silvester, who worked for the South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb), posed as nurses and unlawfully entered the homes of dying patients. They stole morphine and other vital painkillers intended to ease the patients’ final days.
Using their paramedic positions, the two accessed sensitive patient records. They operated together, with one locating addresses and the other committing the thefts. Their criminal activities took place across Thanet, Canterbury, Whitstable, Faversham, and Herne Bay.
Their crime spree came to light in August 2021 when Kent Police identified a pattern of distraction burglaries targeting patients in critical care. Following a series of raids at their Margate home, officers recovered stolen medication, nurses’ uniforms, and NHS computers.
Text messages uncovered during the investigation showed the pair referred to the stolen drugs as “sweets.” Silvester’s NHS login was used nearly 1,850 times to access patient call records. A detailed diary was found, listing addresses visited, medication stolen, and instances where entry was refused.
They also stole medication directly from ambulances and NHS reserves between 2018 and 2021. CCTV footage and mobile phone data confirmed their involvement in more than 25 burglaries over nine months. Police recovered NHS medical equipment valued at over £14,000 during the investigation.
Both Lambert and Silvester pleaded guilty to conspiring to burgle and steal. On Tuesday 11 January 2022, Canterbury Crown Court sentenced each to five years in prison.
Detective Sergeant Jay Robinson said, “These offences were an astonishing abuse of position. They were plotting and stealing crucial medication from terminally ill patients. Many victims have since passed away and will never know justice was done.”
He added, “Our thoughts are with the families. We thank them for their support during what must have been an already difficult and sad time.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
