Legal News
Paramedic Who Stole From the Elderly Avoids Prison Sentence (19 September 2011)
Date: 19/09/2011
A paramedic who stole £100 from an elderly lady has narrowly avoided a jail sentence. Carl Brzakalik, from Hampshire, attended a call to 89-year-old Muriel Quintin who suffered a fall in her own home. Mrs. Quintin died shortly after being admitted to hospital. While attending the call at Mrs. Quintin’s home, Mr. Brzakalik stole a wallet belonging to her deceased husband. The wallet contained £100 in cash. Police later recovered the wallet from Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth.
Mr. Brzakalik was arrested on suspicion of theft. He was questioned by the police and charged one week later. Mr. Brzakalik admitted stealing the wallet and was handed a 14-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. Mr. Brzakalik has been ordered to undertake 100 hours' unpaid community service work and pay £85 in court costs. Mr. Brzakalik will also be required to contribute £100 in compensation to the estate of Mrs. Quintin.
Mrs. Quintin’s niece, Karen Mazlum, described the theft as “terribly upsetting for the whole Family”, claiming that they had “never expected someone to steal from a woman in the final days of her life.” A spokesperson for South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust described the case as “an isolated incident”, stating that “occurrences like this are very rare.” The spokesperson claimed that they take breaches of trust “very seriously” and have “robust internal procedures” in place when such incidences occur. The Health Professions Council is yet to give their verdict on the formal suspension of Mr. Brzakalik.
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