A man who stole an ambulance with a patient and paramedic inside has admitted false imprisonment and aggravated vehicle taking.

Marshall Leese, 32, took the vehicle from outside the Royal Stoke University Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent at about 20:15 GMT on 25 March.

Police pursued him until he stopped at a petrol station on the A34 in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. A second ambulance was sent to recover the patient.

Leese, of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, also pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen and driving without insurance at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. He was remanded into custody and the case adjourned for sentencing on a date yet to be fixed.

Judge Sally Hancox described the incident as “unusual”.

West Midlands Ambulance Service previously said a second ambulance was sent to where Leese stopped to recover the patient and take them back to hospital.

A welfare check was also carried out on the staff member to “maintain their wellbeing”, a spokesperson added.

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