A paramedic has been jailed for 12 months for lying about why he did not try to resuscitate a 30-stone man.

Barry Baker, 59, had dialled 999 after collapsing at his Brighton home in November 2008.

Paramedic Karl Harris, 45, said he could not resuscitate him because he was surrounded by clutter. Mr Baker suffered cardiac arrest and died later.

Harris, of Tophill Close, Portslade, was found guilty at Lewes Crown Court of perverting the course of justice.

Harris was told he must serve at least six months in prison.

Jurors at Lewes Crown Court took about four hours to reach a guilty verdict.

Perhaps you felt there was more you could have done and you simply did not want to have the hassle of having to fill in large numbers of forms Judge Guy Anthony

Sentencing Harris immediately, Judge Guy Anthony said the paramedic had demonstrated a "gross breach of trust".

Harris's lawyer Gillian Jones said he had no previous convictions and said that no complaints had previously been made about his professional conduct.

She said Harris was aware that lying was a "silly and stupid thing to have done".

But the judge said he made "a clear and deliberate decision to lie" about Mr Baker's death.

Breathing difficulties

He told Harris: "Quite why will perhaps only be known for certain by you.

"Perhaps you felt there was more you could have done and you simply did not want to have the hassle of having to fill in large numbers of forms and explain why you did not or could not do more than you did."

Paramedics found the house filled with clutter when they arrived

The court heard Mr Baker dialled 999 at 0414 GMT on 29 November 2008 after experiencing breathing difficulties.

Harris told the court he arrived at the house but a large amount of clutter surrounding Mr Baker had prevented him and his colleague, Ben Stokes, from moving and resuscitating him.

The court heard that Harris had told his colleague not to attempt resuscitation because he believed Mr Baker was already dead.

A post-mortem examination found that a combination of Mr Baker's 30-stone (190.5 kg) weight, along with thrombosis of the legs, led to the cardiac arrest which killed him.

During the trial, a recording of a telephone call Harris made to the Brighton Ambulance Station was played to the court, in which he was heard to say: "I'm trying to cover my back here really.

"We tried to move this guy but it's impossible. You've never seen clutter like it mate, honestly.

"Police are on the scene but there's nothing dodgy about the job. We just didn't try to attempt resuscitation."

Harris was suspended from his job at South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust following Mr Baker's death.

No charges were brought against Mr Stokes but the ambulance trust placed him on restricted duties following the incident.

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