Jail for man who smashed up NHS workers’ cars during coronavirus pandemic

Callum Wood, aged 31, has been sentenced to 12 months prison for four counts of attempted theft from cars at James Cook University Hospital.

Wood was charged after an incident at the hospital car park on Sunday, March 29, at around 2.30pm.

Cleveland Police slammed the offences as “appalling” particularly as they were carried out while NHS staff are working flat out to deal with pressures of COVID-19.

Detective Constable Elizabeth Malcolm, from Middlesbrough CID, said: “At a time of national crisis, this man has broken into vehicles belonging to NHS staff and tried to steal from them.

“It’s appalling that anyone would do this at any time, let alone when our NHS colleagues are working flat out and putting themselves at risk for others.

“Coupled with Callum Wood’s previous offending, he was quite rightly sentenced to three months consecutive for each offence, a total of 12 months imprisonment.

“We welcome the sentence and want to warn anyone else who thinks it is acceptable to behave in such a manner, or who causes fear or harm in the current climate, we will find those responsible and we will prosecute them.”

Hartlepool nurse Hollie Coates recently found her car window had been smashed after finishing a 13-hour shift at James Cook hospital.

It’s not known if Wood, of Rothbury Road, Middlesbrough, was responsible.

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