A paramedic has appeared in court charged with stealing morphine, falsifying documents and dangerous driving.

Andrew Daffey, of Middletune Avenue, Milton, appeared at Maidstone Magistrates' Court today.

It heard how he took morphine sulphate, a painkiller used to treat severe pain, between Monday, April 23, and Saturday, September 29, last year when employed by South East Coast Ambulance Service.

In the same timeframe, he also falsified patient care forms to say morphine was given, when it was not.

Prosecuting, Neil Sweeney, said he was called to a 79-year-old man in that period who was not given the drug.

The patient was given a form saying he was not given morphine but the official copy handed to ambulance bosses was amended to say it had been administered.

The same thing happened when he was called to an 11-year-old with abdominal pain in Minster, Sheppey.

He added: "From September 24th to September 28th Mr Daffey had not returned vials of morphine.

"The evidence suggests at least 50 vials were not legitimately used."

He made "full and frank admissions" in a police interview.

Mr Sweeney also alleged Daffey drove an ambulance response vehicle - one of the service's cars and not an ambulance - dangerously in Leysdown Road and Eastchurch High Street on Monday, September 24.

The prosecutor said: "The vehicle was unable to brake in time, the vehicle went over the kerb on the opposite side of the road.

"It is said he travelled at 40mph in a 20mph zone with speed bumps and narrowly missed a car and street lamp."

Footage was captured on the medic's dashcam.

The defence did not reveal any mitigating issues but said "there are several".

The 27-year-old admitted charges of theft by employee and fraud by false representation but did not enter a plea for dangerous driving.

He was released on unconditional bail to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday, November 22.

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