Two Paramedics Jailed for Stealing Painkillers from Dying Patients
Ruth Lambert, 33, and Jessica Silvester, 29, have been locked up for preying on vulnerable, terminally ill patients. Posing as nurses, the pair barged into homes under end-of-life care, stealing morphine and other vital painkillers meant to ease patients’ final days.
Inside the Sick Scheme
Lambert and Silvester used their jobs as paramedics with the South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) to access sensitive patient records. They teamed up—one would dig up addresses, the other would strike, stealing medication from homes across Thanet, Canterbury, Whitstable, Faversham, and Herne Bay.
Their crime spree was spotted in August 2021 when kent-police/" title="Kent Police" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Kent Police spotted a pattern of distraction burglaries targeting patients needing critical care. The pair were arrested at their Margate home after a series of raids uncovered stolen medication, nurses’ uniforms, and NHS computers.
Shocking Evidence and Widespread Theft
- Text messages revealed they called the stolen drugs “sweets”.
- Silvester’s NHS login was used nearly 1,850 times to access patient call records.
- A detailed diary logged addresses, medication stolen, and even refusals of entry.
- They also stole medication directly from ambulances and NHS reserves between 2018 and 2021.
- CCTV and mobile phone data confirmed their presence at over 25 burglaries during nine months of crime.
- Police returned NHS medical equipment worth over £14,000 recovered during investigations.
Justice Served
The pair pleaded guilty to conspiring to burgle and steal. On Tuesday 11 January 2022, Canterbury Crown Court sentenced each to five years behind bars.
“These offences were an astonishing abuse of position,” said Detective Sergeant Jay Robinson. “They were plotting and stealing crucial medication from terminally ill patients. Many victims have since passed away and will never know justice was done.”
“Our thoughts are with the families. We thank them for their support during what must have been an already difficult and sad time.”
