Hartcliffe man who stole Bristol bleed kit is sentenced

A man who stole an emergency bleed kit from a city centre street has received a suspended prison sentence.

Ryan Horler, from Hartcliffe in Bristol, previously pleaded guilty to stealing the equipment from Frogmore Street on 11 August.

The 42-year-old also admitted theft of a bike on 19 May, and eight counts of theft from shops between 5 July and 21 September.

He given a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, at Bristol Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Horler was also placed under a curfew for eight weeks and ordered to pay £125 compensation.

The bleed kit that Horler stole was replaced within an hour of the theft being reported, Avon and Somerset Police said.

Installed across the city by Avon and Somerset Police, NHS England South West and HeartSafe, bleed kits are designed to be used by members of the public to give emergency first aid before paramedics arrive.

PC Max Sims said: "Bleed kits can help to save the life of someone who has been critically injured and the mindless theft of one could have had a catastrophic impact should it have been unavailable when needed in an emergency."