COPS were today hunting a drunken thug who snatched a life-saving defibrillator from a paramedic on a 999 call and urinated on it.

The£13,000 piece of equipment was stolen as the emergency worker treated an injured man at Voodoo Lounge nightclub in Leicestershire and later found destroyed.

3 Cops want to speak to this man about the theft of a defibrillator in Hinckley Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

3 CCTV images were released after a thug stole a defibrillator from a paramedic as he treated a casulty Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

It was located in a nearby car park with no batteries and covered in urine.

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) people has also spat at and shouted abuse at the paramedic while he treated his patient.

Leicestershire cops released an image of a person they wished to speak to and have since arrested an 18-year-old man on suspicion of theft.

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A police spokesman said: "At around 4am on Sunday December 4, the defibrillator was taken from an ambulance in Regent Street, Hinckley, while the paramedics were treating a patient.

"It was later recovered, with a substantial amount of damage, from a nearby car park."

Mark Gregory, general manager for EMAS, condemned the "disgraceful" and "appalling" act.

He said: "I find it really hard to believe that anybody could harm another person who dedicates their life to helping others.

"To assault a staff member is unacceptable and to spit at them is disgraceful.

"Further to this is the appalling theft of a life-saving piece of equipment and the disgusting act of urinating on it.

"Our staff work tirelessly to help the people of Leicestershire in sometimes difficult circumstances and do not deserve to be treated in this way."

3 The life-saving equipment was stolen as the paramedic treated a man in Voodoo Bar Hinckley Credit: BPM Media

The paramedic had been flagged down by a police officer to help the casualty and EMAS has said there were lots of people around, urging anyone who witnessed the theft to come forward.

A spokeswoman added: "Alcohol can cloud people's judgement but there is no excuse for assaulting a member of ambulance staff and damaging a lifesaving piece of equipment."

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