Suspect in court over vile note to 999 crew
A WOMAN will appear in court today after a vile “move your van” note was left on an ambulance while its crew dealt with a 999 emergency.
Shocked paramedics treating a patient with breathing difficulties returned to find the message: “If this van is for anyone but number 14 then you have no right to be parked here.
“I couldn’t give a **** if the whole street collapsed. Now move your van from outside my house.”
Kirsty Sharman, 26, of Stoke-onTrent, will appear at North Staffordshire Justice Centre in Newcastleunder-Lyme, charged with a public order offence and breach of a restraining order after Sunday’s incident in Tunstall. West Midlands Ambulance Service paramedic mentor Katie Tudor posted a picture on social media, saying: “So upset to be sent this by one of our crews this morning!”
Ms Tudor said the crew was also verbally abused and that the ambulance had been in a parking space.
She sent the photograph to police Twitter accounts, adding: “Is there anything that can be done about this? It’s becoming a regular occurrence.”
Staffordshire’s Assistant Chief Constable Nick Adderley responded: “Sadly we have to tolerate those in society who only ever think about themselves until such time when they need you/us. Just know that 99.9 per cent of the public really value appreciate what you/we do.”
Another Twitter user said: “The vast majority of us will let you block our driveway for an emergency or anything else you need help for! Not everyone has lost the plot thankfully!”
One local resident described the ambulance note as “disgusting” and added: “Everyone is appalled.”
Stoke-on-Trent North Labour MP Ruth Smeeth said: “Our emergency services work day in day out to keep us safe and anyone who treats them with abuse should be condemned.”
Area policing commander Chief Inspector John Owen said: “We will not tolerate abuse or intimidation of our emergency services.” and