A West Australian paramedic has pleaded guilty to stealing powerful painkillers while on the job.
Lee Headland was a manager of St John’s Australind station, a sub-centre of the South West’s bigger Bunbury facility.
He appeared in Bunbury Magistrates Court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing as a servant.
The matter was heard in the local court.Credit: Hannah Murphy
The 39-year-old from Crooked Brook, near Ferguson Valley, was arrested by police in June.
He remains on police bail ahead of sentencing.
Headland was arrested after fellow paramedics noticed vials of the painkillers had appeared to have been tampered with.
The court was told the amount of fentanyl Headland stole was worth $1312, and the charges occurred between March 3 and May 3, 2025.
Headland’s lawyer asked for a psyche report for his client, saying his actions were a result of “underlying pressures”.
He is due back before the court on October 23.
This masthead understands the fentanyl was replaced with saline, which is a mix of salt and water.
Headland was working at the Australind substation in WA’s South West.Credit: Hannah Murphy
However, this masthead does not suggest Headland swapped the drug, and it is not clear at this stage if patients were impacted.
“As this matter is before the courts, St John WA is unable to provide any comment,” A St John spokesperson said.
Headland was stood down from St John while the investigation took place.
WA’s Health Minister Meredith Hammat is aware of the charge.
Headland remains registered by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, with his accreditation due to expire in November, however he no longer works with St John.
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