Man who stole life-saving face masks from King’s College Hospital is jailed

A man who was caught by hospital security staff after snatching life-saving face masks for nurses has been sent to jail for 12 weeks – within two days of his theft.

Lerun Hussain, 34, of Worsopp Drive, Clapham, was jailed at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday April 7 following the incident at King’s College Hospital.

Police were called to the hospital in Denmark Hill, Lambeth, at around 11:20am on Sunday after Hussain was grabbed by hospital security staff after he stole the three face masks.

Hussain was arrested on suspicion of theft and also detained for being in breach of a court order and charged later that day.

He appeared at Croydon Magistrates’ Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to theft and was sentenced that same day to three months’ imprisonment.