A MAN has admitted trying to steal items from an ambulance glove box while crews treated a patient in the street.

Christopher Rees, of no fixed abode, rifled through the ambulance’s glove box while it was parked in Walton Street, Oxford, as paramedics gave emergency treatment to a 48-year-old man with a head injury at 1.45am on Wednesday.

Yesterday, at Oxford Magistrates’ Court the 33-year-old admitted attempted theft and shouting racist abuse at police officers.

Rees was fined £100 for each offence and also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15.

A third charge of using threatening and abusive words was withdrawn.

Alan Weir, of South Central Ambulance Service, said: “It’s outrageous that an ambulance vehicle should be targeted while the crew were obviously dealing with a patient.”

He added: “We remain pleased that the case has been prosecuted and had a successful outcome.

“We hope that this will actively discourage people from stealing from ambulances. This sort of behaviour is unacceptable.”