Cumbria Ambulance Service trust has described a 29-month driving ban and £400 fine for a man who stole one of its ambulances as particularly lenient.

Michael Paton, 37, of Maryport, pleaded guilty to taking the ambulance without consent in the early hours of boxing day, driving with excess alcohol and having no insurance.

The ambulance was taken from outside the home of an 87-year-old woman as paramedics were transporting her downstairs, to take her to West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven.

But Mr Paton, who was found to be twice over the drink-drive limit, told West Allerdale magistrates he was taking the vehicle for safe-keeping.

He said he found the ambulance with its keys in the ignition and all its doors open and thought he was behaving correctly in driving it to a nearby police station.

Police recovered the ambulance because a passer-by witnessed the theft and followed the vehicle.

Defence solicitor Julie Mercer said Mr Paton was ashamed of his actions.

But trust chief executive Aan Donkersley said they left the crew without an ambulance for an hour, at the busiest time in our history and the sentence did not carry a deterrent component.