Antrim man with 91 convictions to his name at the age of 22 'stole from ambulance and put it out of action for night' court is told

Martin Dempster, 22, with an address listed as Barra Street in Antrim town, is charged with theft of a medication bag belonging to Northern Ireland Ambulance Service on Saturday July 25 this year.

He is also accused of being in possession of diazepam.

He appeared at Antrim Magistrates' Court, sitting in Ballymena on Tuesday, via video link from prison where he has been on remand.

He was further remanded in custody and the case was adjourned to October 13.

A previous court was told the ambulance was put out of service after medical supplies were stolen from the vehicle whilst paramedics brought a patient into hospital.

The defendant had 91 previous convictions including 16 for "drug matters" and four for theft.

Objecting to bail, a police officer told the earlier court that around 4.45am on July 25 police received a report of a theft from an ambulance.

The ambulance had attended an address at Steeple Road in Antrim at 4am and took a patient and the defendant to hospital.

Upon arrival at Antrim Area Hospital, paramedics took the patient in for treatment and Dempster remained outside claiming he wanted to have a cigarette.

A short time later paramedics returned to the ambulance and noticed the medication bag was stolen.

Police received a description and spotted the defendant walking along Bush Road with a medication bag.

Added the officer: "Due to this the ambulance was actually out of service for most of the rest of the evening.

"They could not attend any other calls when they did not have any medication for would-be patients.

"So, it had a knock-on effect for the general public.”

The defendant allegedly committed the offences whilst on bail for "another matter".

A defence barrister told the July court the defendant "suffers from significant mental health and issues with drugs".

The lawyer said it was recognised the court would take a "dim view" of such offending.