Marshall Leese, 32, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and aggravated vehicle taking after stealing an ambulance from outside the Royal Stoke University Hospital on March 25. The vehicle was parked in a triage bay and left in "run lock" mode, allowing the engine to remain on but the keys to be removed.
Staffordshire Police tracked the stolen ambulance, which has a built-in safety feature that shuts off the engine after a period in "run lock" mode. Leese eventually abandoned the vehicle at an Esso petrol station in Chesterton. He fled into nearby woodland, where he was apprehended by police and bitten on the hand by a police dog.
During an initial police interview, Leese denied the offenses, claiming he was cycling and looking for a friend before being bitten. He also admitted to failing to provide a specimen for analysis and using a motor vehicle without third-party insurance.
Sentencing for Leese, who appeared in court wearing a grey Nike tracksuit, was adjourned to a later date. He was remanded into custody.
Detective Constable Lili Rose Gregory of Staffordshire Police stated that the incident "could have ended very differently" but expressed satisfaction that no one was harmed. She added that conclusive evidence was gathered to secure a conviction despite Leese's initial denial.
West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed that a second ambulance was dispatched to the petrol station to recover the patient and transport them back to the hospital.