Hospital patient stole nurse’s handbag

A PATIENT at Leicester Royal Infirmary stole a nurse’s bag on his way out, a court heard

Sundeep Singh Panesar, 34, had gone for treatment in May this year.

A CCTV camera in the Balmoral building’s reception area showed him sneak through a staff-only door, go behind the reception desk and then leave the building carrying a nurse’s rucksack. The bag contained her gym kit and a pair of prescription glasses worth £99.

Panesar, of Stratford Road, Braunstone Town, appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Friday and pleaded guilty to theft.

It was his fourth theft conviction since the start 2020, with the most recent being a shoplifting incident in April this year that resulted in a conditional discharge, the court heard.

Prosecutor Kate Harrison said: “A nurse at Leicester Royal Infirmary had left her bag in the reception of the Balmoral building.

“The defendant had been discharged from the emergency department and as he was leaving the ward he is seen on CCTV going behind the desk and then exiting with the complainant’s rucksack.

“This caused inconvenience due to the loss of the glasses. They were prescription glasses and she had to get a new pair.”

Helen Morris, representing Panesar, said the defendant was living on the street and was addicted to drugs when the incident happened but was now off drugs, back living with his mum and looking forward to getting new temp work as a forklift driver in the coming weeks.

She said: “At the time of this offence he was in a bad way. He had lost his father earlier in the year and that caused him to turn to drugs, which has been an issue in the past when he’s struggling.”

Ms Morris said Panesar got into debt after his mum threw him out of the family home and he was living on the streets. She said he was leaving the hospital after seeking help with his mental health and that he had given up after waiting for 10 hours for treatment.

She said: “He saw a bag and picked it up hoping to find some cash for his drugs and his debt problem. He tells me his mental health is now stable and he is back at home living with his mum. He has managed to obtain his forklift licence and is awaiting work.”

Panesar was ordered to pay the nurse £99 in compensation, along with a £120 fine, a £34 victim surcharge and £85 for court costs.