Paramedic who stole dead woman’s cash given suspended sentence

A Shropshire paramedic who pocketed cash belonging to a 94 year old woman who had just collapsed and died has been given a suspended prison sentence by Shrewsbury Crown Court.

Mark Titley, 58, of Linley Avenue, Pontesbury, was given 18 weeks suspended for 12 months when he admitted theft yesterday.

He was also ordered to carry out 120 hours unpaid work and pay £530 costs and a £187 victim surcharge.

The court heard that he was one of four paramedics who attended an address in Torrin Drive, Shrewsbury, after reports that a 94 year old lady had collapsed in her garden on 29 June last year.

The lady lived alone and CPR and advanced life support was conducted for about 20 minutes before she was sadly pronounced deceased.

Titley then entered the property in search of a Do Not Resuscitate form. He was caught on camera going into a plastic box containing cash. He was seen to lift up the notes, count through them and place some of the cash – about £60 – in his trouser pocket.

He then looked around the room, spotted the camera and immediately put the cash back in the box.

This act was seen on the camera footage by the victim's son, who described feeling ‘disgusted and sick to my stomach’ upon reviewing it. He immediately reported it to West Mercia Police.

Titley initially denied the allegation within interview, claiming that he was intending on taking the money out to family members for them to ‘secure’ it.

He retired from West Midlands Ambulance Service only days after this incident and is no longer a serving paramedic.

Issued by RG, Corporate Communications