North Yorkshire police help catch gang who stole pain relief gas from hospitals

North Yorkshire Police helped to catch a gang who stole pain relief gas canisters from hospitals.
By Rebecca Marano
Published 29th Apr 2020, 08:40 BST
Updated 29th Apr 2020, 09:10 BST

Four men were involved in a targeted spree to steal gas canisters from hospitals across the country on the weekend of March 21 to 23.

The theft of the pain relief gas could have forced hospital bosses to cancel operations, and the damage to storage units could have compromised oxygen supplies needed by Covid-19 patients.

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The gang first broke in to Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport and stole two nitrous oxide canisters, used for pain relief.

Four men have admitted breaking in to hospitals during the coronavirus crisis to steal gas canisters which could have led to operations being cancelled.Four men have admitted breaking in to hospitals during the coronavirus crisis to steal gas canisters which could have led to operations being cancelled.
Four men have admitted breaking in to hospitals during the coronavirus crisis to steal gas canisters which could have led to operations being cancelled.

They then drove to Willington Hospital in Manchester and took another eight - some containing "gas and air", often used in childbirth, and others nitrous oxide - from a storage unit after cutting through padlocks.

The gang travelled to the North East and smashed their way into a storage unit at Chester-le-Street Community Hospital to steal more canisters in the early hours of the next day.

They committed similar attacks on hospitals in Bishop Auckland and Darlington, taking 14 canisters from the latter, and driving off with them in the back of a BMW fitted with stolen number plates.

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Police in Lincolnshire stopped a van the gang were using at a service station and found 29 gas canisters in the back.

Two men were arrested in the van and two others in the BMW were stopped by police in North Yorkshire.

Oliver Zak Henry Evans, 22, of Sandy Lane North, Wallington; Harry David Bradley Goodrum, 23, of Norwich Road, Dereham; Jake Alexander Roberts, 23, of Chestnut Hill, Norwich; and Wayne John Grady, 41, of no fixed address, admitted a single charge of conspiracy to commit burglary.

Judge Paul Watson QC, sitting at Teesside Crown Court, told them it was an extremely serious offence and they should expect substantial jail terms when he sentences them on June 2.

He remanded them in custody in the meantime.

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Outside court, Detective Sergeant John Tyers from Durham Police said: "Stealing oxygen canisters from hospitals is a despicable crime and totally unacceptable, especially during these times when they are needed to help the most vulnerable.

"The gang has shown little regard towards the NHS and patients undergoing treatment and this could literally be the difference between life and death.

"We are pleased to see the culprits have pleaded guilty following a thorough and complex investigation by our team and our colleagues at North Yorkshire Police, Manchester and Lincolnshire Police."