A FORMER ambulance technician has admitted a scam in which he pretended to sell medical equipment to fund his drug addiction.

David Richens, 24, set up a Facebook site last year to sell equipment worth a total of £1,620 to several buyers who included fellow medical professionals, items which he had no intention of supplying.

Bournemouth Magistrates Court heard that the defendant had developed an addiction to morphine during treatment for an illness, and had later switched to street heroin and crack cocaine.

Prosecutor Alison Saunders said Richens, of New Milton, had used an assumed name on the Facebook page, which he had deleted as soon as he received the payments, leaving his customers unable to contact him.

“This was fraud from the outset, he never intended to fulfil the orders in any way,” she said.

“The victims are variously described as a paramedic, an emergency medical technician, another from a company which trades medical equipment.

“It appears they had a professional interest in the goods.”

She said police were able to trace Richens – who has one prior conviction for forging a prescription – as he had the money transferred into his own bank account.

In mitigation, Brendan Allen said it had been an unsophisticated fraud, and his client – a qualified ambulance technician who had also run a business selling medical equipment for some years – had admitted his actions upon his arrest.

Mr Allen said Richens had undergone several operations to treat his own long-term medical condition, which caused an extremely painful build-up of pressure around the brain, and had been prescribed morphine.

His prescription was later reduced but he had become addicted.

“In that period of time he started using illicit street drugs,” said Mr Allen.

“He knows this can’t excuse his behaviour, but that is how someone who is a qualified ambulance technician ends up in the situation he finds himself in today.”

Richens, of Old Milton Road, pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud by false representation – offences which took place in Bournemouth between August 21 and October 2.

He was released on bail to return to court for sentencing on January 21.