Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Friday 31st January 2025, at 19:15hrs
This was vital medical equipment needed by the NHS and used for sick people in hospital
A hospital worker who stole £111,000 worth of lifesaving NHS equipment to sell on eBay has been jailed.
Durham Constabulary launched an investigation after equipment was discovered to have gone missing from the University Hospital of North Durham.
The missing equipment included anaesthetic devices and feeding pumps from both operating theatres and wards, some of which were brand new.
Officers identified 51-year-old hospital technician Mark Charters as a suspect and a search of his home in Shiney Row found 68 pieces of medical equipment in his loft worth just under £34,000.
Checks of Charters’ eBay account revealed he had sold more than 150 items worth more than £77,000 since November 2022.
Although Charters refused to comment in interview, investigators were able to match the serial numbers of the missing items to the equipment found at his home.
Charters pleaded guilty to one charge of theft by employee and a second charge of concealing criminal property. Yesterday, at Durham Crown Court, he was sentenced to two years in prison.
PC Jack Robinson, of Durham City CID, said: “Charters’ repeatedly abused a position of trust to line his own pockets.
“This was vital medical equipment, needed by the NHS to help the sick in hospital, but Charters had no qualms about taking it for his own personal gain.
“Thankfully, the theft was spotted by diligent hospital staff who reported it to us and our investigation was able to prove the link between the defendant and the missing equipment.
“We are pleased that the sentence reflects the seriousness of stealing lifesaving equipment from a hospital.”
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