Thief drank four bottles of hospital hand cleaner

A hospital patient drank four bottles of alcohol handwash then stole a charity box containing just 70p from a chapel.

Steven Cox’s lawyer Hugh Robertson told a court: “It is amazing to me that he’s here to tell the tale.”



Cox, 35, appeared for sentencing after pleading guilty to criminal damage and theft of the charity box on May 15 at William Harvey Hospital, in Ashford, Kent.

Folkestone JPs gave Cox, of Saltwood, near Folkestone, a year’s community order with six months’ alcohol and drug treatment, 50 hours of unpaid work and a curfew for three months. He must pay £205 compensation.