A DOCTOR sitting in the passenger seat of her ambulance car in Greenbridge last week was so frightened when a homeless man jumped in and drove the car away that she feared for her life, a court has heard.

Homeless William Webb, 58, appeared before magistrates sitting in Swindon on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to taking the ambulance car without consent, assaulting the doctor and damaging the cruise control column of the vehicle.

When confirming he was homeless Webb told the magistrates: “Nobody wants me. I want to go to prison for the rest of my life, please”.

Prosecuting, James Burnham told the court that on Thursday, October 20, the doctor had been doing paperwork in her vehicle when Webb got in and drove it a short distance before stalling.

Webb then threw a drink bottle at the doctor, broke the cruise control stick off the steering column and threw it at her.

Mr Burnham said the doctor was so frightened she thought she might never see her children again.

She did, however, manage to get out of the car and walk to a nearby Curry’s store, followed by Webb. She made her way to the till area of the store where Webb picked up a fire extinguisher and raised it above his head.

He was then ejected from the store and detained while the police were called.

Webb said to the doctor: “I hope I didn’t hurt you, I just want to go to prison. I did the things they say. I am sorry. I just want to go to prison. There are people trying to kill me.”

He went on to say that he deserved a police bullet in his head and that if released be would kill himself by going on a train track and added that he had got into the car because he was being chased by 15 heroin addicts.

After his arrest last week Webb was remanded in custody until his court appearance yesterday.

Defending, Emma Handslip told the court that Webb was well known to the mental health services and that on October 20 a mental assessment had found that he was not detainable.

Miss Handslip said that later that day Webb was somewhat distressed and got into the ambulance car to prevent what he perceived as danger to himself.

“He feels let down by the mental health services,” Miss Handslip told the court.

“He felt that if detained he would have been provided with accommodation, support and protection and that when released things would be put in place for him.

“He feels safe and secure in custody.”

The magistrates felt probation reports should be prepared before Webb was sentenced, but they did not feel it appropriate to release him on bail for his own wellbeing and because he might commit further offences.

He will next appear in court on November 15.