A DANGEROUS fantasist who deluded himself and lied about being a qualified ambulance technician before being paid to look after sick and injured people was jailed for three years.

Marc Wolff, 40, from Hazel Close, Portslade, bought his own ambulance and equipment and faked documents and uniforms to show he was a genuine medical professional. He broke down when a judge told him his whole persona was a fraud and there were real dangers created by treating people when he was not qualified.

“The potential danger is immense,” Her Honour Judge Shani Barnes told him.

Wolff stole medical supplies and equipment including dangerous gas canisters and prescription drugs which he was not qualified to administer.

He kept up his fantasy life for more than two years working for private medical contractors and NHS Trusts.

Brighton Crown Court heard he earned more than £17,000 from work he obtained fraudulently as an ambulance technician in Sussex, Berkshire, Middlesex, Surrey and Essex.

Wolff faked documents to show he was qualified to work as an ambulance technician. The horrified jury at his two-week trial passed a note to the judge asking how they could prevent others from repeating Wolff’s crimes.

Her Honour Judge Shani Barnes said she regretted not being able to do more to stop the same offences happening in the future.

Wolff broke down in the dock as Judge Barnes sentenced him to three years in prison.

“Rather than being tragically deluded, you were dangerously deluded,” Judge Barnes told Wolff.

“You were convicted of six frauds, four thefts and possession of drugs.

“There are so many offences over such a prolonged period of time, I have to consider the appropriate total sentence. I have to consider my duty to the public. What they are entitled to expect from me.

“I accept this is very unusual but I do have to send a message to the public that the courts will do what they can to keep them safe.

“I do understand you were helping people.

“I know the difficulties those who work in ambulance crews face every day.

“I also have to consider you did not come up to the standard required to deal with patients in the way that you were doing. You are living a fantasy life, you are deluded about your abilities.

“Having been born with really serious medical conditions, you were bullied as a child.

“This created in you a need to create your own self esteem and personality which would provide you with respect from the community.

“You were making extraordinarily bad decisions.

“On the other hand you were very, very dishonest.”

Wolff joined the St John Ambulance at the age of six and tried to work his way up through the medical profession.

He failed to pass the courses required to become an ambulance technician and set about faking his qualifications in order to get work.

A pre-sentence report concluded he wanted people to perceive him as an ambulance technician and he told the probation service he intended to go back to work in his ambulance despite his arrest.

Wolff set up his own company in order to get work in the medical industry.

He used the access he was given by his fraudulent claims to steal medical supplies.

The judge said he had helped himself to supplies from Worthing Hospital.

“You didn’t buy the equipment, you just helped yourself,” Judge Barnes said.

“You weren’t working in a sweet shop and stealing sweets for your kids, you were stealing oxygen and all manner of items you were going to use and you did offer to sell them to your colleagues. You stole from a hospital and I take that very seriously indeed.”

His offences were discovered when other medical professionals complained about his conduct.

No patients reported any injuries after being cared for by Wolff. In 2016, Wolff stole medical equipment belonging to private company Medi 4 ambulance services.

During 2014 and 2015, he stole more medical supplies from private ambulance firm UKSAS at Rainham, Essex.

In 2016, Wolff stole an oxygen canister from Worthing Hospital. Between July 1, 2014 and June 17, 2015, Wolff earned £14,925 working as an ambulance technician in Essex.

When police arrested him they found he was in possession of Diazepam. Judge Barnes ordered Wolff be placed on suicide watch in prison. Wolff was found guilty of theft by an employee, fraud by false representation and possession of a Class C controlled drug.

He was cleared of of two charges of witness intimidation.