A man was jailed for stealing personal protective equipment (PPE) from an ambulance during the coronavirus crisis.
Mark Manley, 35, of no fixed address, was jailed for six months at Croydon Magistrates' Court for stealing equipment from a stationary ambulance and assaulting a security guard, the Metropolitan Police said.
The force said he pleaded guilty to the offences - reports Birmingham Live.
Officers said they were called at 9.19pm on Saturday to reports of a male having stolen from an ambulance at St Thomas Street, south-east London, during the Covid-19 outbreak.
When challenged by security staff, police said the suspect assaulted one security worker and racially abused another.
He had taken a bag containing PPE from the vehicle, police said.
Items taken included masks, paper suits and hand gel, which couldn't be used afterwards because of contamination.
The man was detained by the security guards and patrolling British Transport Police.
Police said he was arrested on suspicion of theft, actual bodily harm and a racially-aggravated public order offence.
He was taken to a south London police station where he was charged with theft from a motor vehicle, a section 4 Public Order Act offence (causing fear or provocation of violence) and a racially aggravated Public Order Act offence.
Manley was jailed at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Monday, according to Scotland Yard.
Police said he was also charged with assault against an emergency worker in relation to the security guard, who sustained facial injuries which were not life-threatening.
